Saturday’s third quarter-final of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) remains the pick of the last-8 clashes as Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Fennecs of Algeria clash for the 23rd time at senior level.
Their first encounter was at the 2nd All-Africa Games in Lagos 55 years ago.
According to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), games between both teams over the past five-and-a-half decades have been laced with thrills and frills, shocking scorelines, drama, end-game flips, stunning comebacks, awesome performances by star players, and a bit of infamy.
The encounter in Marrakech will be the 10th time that both countries will clash in Africa’s biggest football championship, with Nigeria having won only three of the previous nine duels. Algeria have won four, and the other two have ended in stalemates.
One stalemate was the infamous clash of Bouake in 1984, when both teams were suspected to have ‘reached an accord’ to play a scoreless draw in order for both teams to qualify to the semi-finals, and get Cup holders Ghana eliminated.
Nigeria defeated Algeria to win their first AFCON trophy on home soil in 1980, and 10 years later, Algeria defeated Nigeria to win their first AFCON on home soil!
Marrakechi, Morocco’s fourth largest city, is set to host a massive showdown that will create its own story as a chapter in the book of one of African football’s greatest rivalries.
FIFA World Cup Do-Me-I -Do-You
NIGERIA VS ALGERIA (10 October 1981): The highest-stakes confrontations between Nigeria and Algeria have been in FIFA World Cup qualifying series, starting with the shocking defeat of then reigning African champions Nigeria by the Fennecs in Lagos in October 1981.
Before the match, a couple of decisions by the NFA (including an increase in match ticket prices) did not go down well with the players. A couple of retired players were brought back to the team, creating discontent and disharmony. Algeria ran away with a 2-0 win, both goals scored in the first half.
ALGERIA VS NIGERIA (30 October 1981): In Constantine three weeks later, not much could be rescued. The Eagles lost 1-2 and crashed out of the race.
NIGERIA VS ALGERIA (03 July 1993):Visitors Algeria raced to an early lead through striker Abdelhafid Tasfaout, but Nigeria clawed their way back starting with Jay Jay Okocha’s free-kick, and an imperious Rashidi Yekini display, to win 4-1.
ALGERIA VS NIGERIA (08 Oct 1993):Algeria fought hard to stop Nigeria’s bid for a first-ever FIFA World Cup ticket, but failed. Finidi George’s first-half goal was enough for a 1-1 finish and Nigeria’s ticket to USA 1994 was assured.
NIGERIA VS ALGERIA (03 July 2004):Joseph Yobo rose above everyone else at the far post to score Nigeria’s only goal in Abuja in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
ALGERIA VS NIGERIA (04 Sep 2005):Nigeria needed to win to stabilize their campaign, and in the event, ran the Fennecs off the park on a cold night in Oran. Obafemi Martins (a brace), John Utaka, Christian Obodo, and Ayo Makinwa were the scorers as the Eagles won 5-2.
NIGERIA VS ALGERIA (12 Nov 2016):Algeria arrived in Uyo thinking they would go back with the three points, but the relentless Super Eagles claimed a terrific 3-1 win, with a memorable performance by Victor Moses.
ALGERIA VS NIGERIA (10 Nov 2017):Nigeria had already qualified for the FIFA World Cup before this match, but it was still a well-contested game in Constantine that ended 1-1. The result was overturned after Nigeria was found to have fielded an ineligible player, and Algeria declared 3-0 winners.
AFCON Blocades
NIGERIA VS ALGERIA (22 Mar 1980):Two goals by Olusegun Odegbami, one by Mudashiru Lawal, and Nigeria lifted the AFCON trophy for the first time. The venue was the National Stadium, Surulere, and the match was attended by President Shehu Shagari and a number of cabinet ministers.
NIGERIA VS ALGERIA (10 Mar 1982):Defending champions Nigeria took the lead through Emmanuel Osigwe, but the Fennecs rallied back with an equalizer late in the first half, and then scored early in the second period to achieve victory.
NIGERIA VS ALGERIA (11 Mar 1984):The match referee had to give both teams a yellow card as they made no genuine attempt to score, with fans believing they had ‘reached an accord’ to settle for a scoreless draw and progress to the last 4 at the expense of Cup holders Ghana. It ended 0-0, and both made it to the semi-finals, where Nigeria edged out Egypt on a penalty shootout, and Algeria lost to eventual winners Cameroon.
NIGERIA VS ALGERIA (23 Mar 1988):Sam Okwaraji’s shot was deflected into the net for Nigeria’s goal before Algeria equalized. Nigeria finished with 10 men following Ademola Adeshina’s red card, but went on to win the match in a sudden-death penalty shootout.
ALGERIA VS NIGERIA (02 March 1990): Hosts Algeria got their biggest-ever win over Nigeria in the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations finals. The goals came from Rabah Madjer and teammates, before Emma Okocha pulled one back for Nigeria.
ALGERIA VS NIGERIA (16 Mar 1990):Two weeks later, Algeria lifted their first AFCON title following a 1-0 over Nigeria in the final, Cherif Oudjani making hay with a long-range shot that beat goalkeeper Alloy Agu.
NIGERIA VS ALGERIA (21 Jan 2002):Nigeria had the upper hand all through, and picked the maximum three points at the 26 March Stadium in Bamako thanks to a goal by Julius Aghahowa.
NIGERIA VS ALGERIA (30 Jan 2010):Nigeria again won by the odd goal in the third-place match of the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Angola, following a goal by Obinna Nsofor after excellent work by Nwankwo Kanu.
ALGERIA VS NIGERIA (14 Jul 2019): Riyad Mahrez was the hero as the Super Eagles fell 1-2 in a tumultuous Africa Cup of Nations semi-final match at the Cairo International Stadium.
By Dianabasi Effiong
