The "Battle of the Lions" isn't the only heavyweight clash in Morocco this weekend. Tonight, Saturday, January 10, 2026, two of Africa's most decorated footballing giants, Algeria and Nigeria, face off in a high-stakes AFCON 2025 quarter-final. Kick-off is set for 16:00 GMT at the Stade de Marrakech.
This fixture is a meeting of extremes: Nigeria arrives as the tournament’s most explosive attacking force, having scored 12 goals in four matches, while Algeria boasts the most disciplined defense, having conceded just once in the competition so far.
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: AFCON 2025 (Quarter-Final)
Date: Saturday, January 10, 2026
Kick-off: 16:00 GMT / 17:00 local / 11:00 ET
Venue: Stade de Marrakech, Morocco
Referee: TBD (VAR: In use)
Broadcast: E4 / Channel 4 (UK), beIN SPORTS (US/MENA), SuperSport (Africa)
The Storyline: Attacking Firepower vs. Tactical Discipline
Nigeria: Soaring Despite Off-Field Drama
The Super Eagles have been "absolute cinema" in this tournament. After dismantling Mozambique 4–0 in the Round of 16, Eric Chelle’s side is arguably the favorite for the title. However, preparations were briefly rocked by a reported dispute over unpaid win bonuses, which saw the squad delay their flight to Marrakech.
Thankfully for Nigerian fans, the dispute has been resolved. The focus now returns to the pitch, where Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman (who has 4 assists so far) are looking to rewrite history. Nigeria has reached the semi-finals in 15 of their last 20 AFCON appearances, and they intend to make it 16 tonight.
Algeria: The Desert Foxes' Defensive Wall
Algeria’s journey has been quieter but equally effective. Under Vladimir Petković, the Fennec Foxes secured their spot in the last eight with a hard-fought 1–0 extra-time win over DR Congo. The hero was Adil Boulbina, though much of the credit goes to goalkeeper Luca Zidane, who has kept clean sheets in every match he has started this tournament.
Algeria has a psychological edge, having won three of their last four meetings against Nigeria, including the infamous 2019 semi-final decided by a late Riyad Mahrez free-kick.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Algeria Team News
Injury Doubt: Midfielder Ismaël Bennacer is "touch and go" after picking up a knock in the previous round.
Returnee: Jaouen Hadjam is expected to return to the starting XI to provide more natural width.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Zidane; Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Hadjam; Boudaoui, Bennacer (or Zerrouki), Chaibi; Mahrez, Maza, Amoura.
Nigeria Team News
Discipline: Victor Osimhen is expected to start despite a minor on-field argument with Ademola Lookman in the last round. Coach Chelle has confirmed the issue is resolved internally.
Missing: Striker Cyriel Dessers is ruled out for the rest of the tournament with an injury.
Predicted XI (4-3-1-2): Nwabali; Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Onyemaechi; Onyeka, Ndidi, Iwobi; Lookman; Osimhen, Akor Adams.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Recent Dominance: Algeria is unbeaten in their last four matches against Nigeria (3W, 1D).
Nigerian Firepower: The Super Eagles average 3 goals per game in this edition of AFCON.
Record Watch: Victor Osimhen is now just four goals away from becoming Nigeria's all-time leading goalscorer.
Assists King: Ademola Lookman is currently tied for the most assists in the tournament (4).
Tactical Analysis: The Wall vs. The Spear
This is a classic "Immovable Object vs. Unstoppable Force" scenario. Algeria will likely deploy a compact, structured defense, looking to frustrate Nigeria’s creative engine, Alex Iwobi. Petković knows that if his side can weather the initial storm from Lookman and Osimhen, the pressure will shift to the Nigerians.
Nigeria will look to play with high intensity and verticality. With the pace of Akor Adams and the clinical finishing of Osimhen, the Super Eagles aim to score early to force Algeria out of their defensive shell.
Match Prediction
Algeria’s defensive organization is elite, but Nigeria’s attacking variety feels inevitable in this tournament. While Algeria may take the game to extra time, the fresher legs and raw quality of the Super Eagles’ bench might just tip the scales.
Final Score Prediction: Algeria 1–1 Nigeria (Nigeria to win 2–1 in Extra Time)
