Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic has openly admitted that the Super Eagles of Nigeria fully deserved their 2–0 victory over the Desert Foxes in the AFCON 2025 quarter-final clash played at the Grand Stade de Marrakech on Saturday.
Nigeria booked their place in the semi-finals with a commanding performance, as Victor Osimhen opened the scoring early in the second half before Akor Adams sealed the win moments later. The result marked a dominant outing against an Algerian side that had conceded just one goal throughout the tournament prior to the encounter.
Speaking during his post-match press conference, Petkovic made no attempt to mask the superiority of the Nigerian team.
“Do I have to tell the truth or should I be political?” the Algerian coach asked rhetorically. “Nigeria deserved to win this match. They were better than us. It was difficult to get into this match… We were hit left and right.”
The former Swiss national team coach acknowledged Nigeria’s relentless pressing and intensity, which disrupted Algeria’s rhythm from the opening minutes and left his players struggling to cope, particularly in the first half.
Despite the painful exit, Petkovic praised his team for their overall performance at the tournament, noting that Algeria had shown resilience and quality before running into a superior Nigerian side.
With the victory, Nigeria’s Super Eagles now turn their attention to a high-profile AFCON 2025 semi-final showdown against hosts Morocco, scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, in Rabat, as they continue their quest for a record-extending fourth AFCON title.
