The Super Eagles face Algeria in the quarterfinals at the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco on Saturday, eyeing a win to progress to the last four of the competition.
Both sides are the only teams to maintain a perfect record at the tournament so far, but that run will come to an end for one of them when they are eliminated after the clash.
Nigeria reached the final two years ago in Ivory Coast, before losing to the host nations in the final and will be hoping for a better performance this time around.
They have been very impressive under Eric Chelle, winning all of their four matches and scoring 12 goals which is the highest number scored by a team at the tournament.
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However, they face a tough test against Algeria, who defeated them in the semifinal stage in 2019 and are also undefeated in this edition of the tournament.
The 28-man squad is highly stacked with quality and SportPremi highlights five players who could proved decisive in tomorrow’s encounter;
1. Ademola Lookman
Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman has remarkably contributed to seven goals and assists in only three matches in this edition of the African Cup of Nations and is on course to claim the player of the tournament award.
The Atalanta forward has always proven his worth on the big stage and will be one major threat against the Algerians in their quarterfinal clash.
2. Alex Iwobi
Alex Iwobi might not earn the post match plaudits, but his influence in the Super Eagles setup cannot be understated.
Nigeria will look up to the Fulham midfielder’s incisive passing and creativity in midfield to threaten a solid Algerian side when both teams face-off later tomorrow.
3. Victor Osimhen
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has showcased his importance to the national team over the years and will be hoping for another inspiring display to guide the team past the threat of Algeria.
He has already scored three times at this tournament and is only three goals shy off breaking Rashidi Yekini’s all-time goalscoring record, giving him an extra motivation in the clash.
The Galatasaray forward was involved in a confrontation with Lookman in Nigeria’s 4-0 win over Mozambique in the Round of 16, but the issue has since been resolved and he is expected to lead the line in the last eight encounter.
4. Calvin Bassey
Since making his debut for the Nigerian national team, Calvin Bassey has established himself as a defensive mainstay, organizing and leading the backline regardless of his centre-back partner.
Bassey has played in all of Nigeria’s matches so far in Morocco and his battle against Riyad Mahrez and Baghdad Bounedjah will be one to watch out for.
5. Frank Onyeka
Midfielder Frank Onyeka was omitted from Nigeria’s starting lineup for their opening match, a 2-1 win over Tanzania, but has become an ever-present in the team since then.
The Brentford midfielder’s tireless pressing and work-rate had brought stability to the midfield and has freed up space for the attackers to cause havoc upfront.
