Nigeria’s Super Eagles brushed aside Algeria with ruthless efficiency, cruising to a 2-0 victory to storm into the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations and shatter Algerian hopes in Marrakesh.

Victor Osimhen was the executioner-in-chief, breaking the deadlock moments after the restart before turning provider for Akor Adams, whose strike before the hour mark sealed Nigeria’s place in the last four and set up a mouth-watering clash with hosts Morocco.

After toying with Algeria throughout a dominant first half, Nigeria wasted little time asserting superiority again, as Osimhen rose unchallenged to power home a header barely two minutes into the second half.

The reigning African Player of the Year then rubbed salt into Algerian wounds, carving open their defence with a precise assist that allowed Akor Adams to finish clinically and put the contest beyond doubt.

Still haunted by their failure to qualify for the upcoming World Cup, the Super Eagles are now channelling their frustration into a serious push for a fourth AFCON crown, determined to go one better than their runner-up finish in the Ivory Coast two years ago.

Nigeria was unmoved by a partisan crowd of 32,452 that overwhelmingly backed Algeria, though they are bracing for an even fiercer atmosphere when they face Morocco in Wednesday’s semi-final in Rabat.

For Algeria, the defeat was a bitter reversal. The Desert Foxes had eliminated Nigeria on their way to lifting the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, and this tournament had marked their strongest showing since that triumph.

Buoyed by an impressive group-stage run and a narrow last-16 victory over DR Congo, Vladimir Petkovic’s side arrived full of belief, backed by a massive travelling support beneath the Atlas Mountains.

But optimism evaporated quickly as Algeria’s vaunted attack, featuring Riyad Mahrez, Ibrahim Maza, and Mohamed Amoura, failed to register a single shot in the first half and were fortunate not to be trailing at the break.

Nigeria nearly struck earlier when Luca Zidane misjudged an Ademola Lookman free kick, and Calvin Bassey steered the ball goalwards, only for Ramy Bensebaini to make a desperate goal-line clearance that briefly kept Algerian hopes alive.