Former Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach with the Cameroon Indomitable Lions, Claude Leroy, has cautioned Algeria’s Desert Warriors that their best chance of getting a positive result against Nigeria lies in effectively containing the attacking threat of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The experienced French tactician gave his assessment ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster quarter-final encounter between the Super Eagles and the Desert Warriors at the Stade de Marrakech, Ouahat Sidi Ibrahim. The highly anticipated clash will see two of Africa’s biggest football nations battle for a place in the semi-finals of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, with little separating both sides heading into the knockout showdown.
Reacting to Algeria’s narrow qualification against DR Congo, Leroy acknowledged the North Africans’ quality but insisted that Nigeria poses a far more dangerous challenge. “Algeria earned its qualification; they were more enterprising than Congo,” Leroy said. “It won’t be easy against Nigeria; they will need to manage Lookman and Osimhen.”
Both Nigeria and Algeria progressed from the group stage with a perfect record, finishing as the only two teams to win all three of their matches. However, Leroy believes that past performances will count for little at this decisive stage of the tournament, where one mistake can prove costly.
With Osimhen’s physical presence and clinical finishing, combined with Lookman’s pace, creativity, and goal threat from wide areas, Nigeria’s attacking duo has emerged as one of the most feared partnerships at AFCON 2025. Algeria will therefore need tactical discipline, concentration, and defensive solidity if it hopes to neutralize the Super Eagles’ firepower.
The stage is now set for a thrilling quarter-final in Marrakech, as two in-form teams collide in what promises to be one of the standout matches of the tournament, with only one side advancing to keep their continental title dreams alive.