Algeria will have to turn the form book upside down if they are to overcome Nigeria in their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final on Sunday, having not beaten the Super Eagles on the pitch for nearly 30 years.
In the other match Senegal, aiming to win the tournament for the first time, meet a Tunisia side appearing to pick up momentum at the right time.
Algeria twice beat Nigeria at the 1990 tournament – 5-1 in the group stage and 1-0 in the final – on the only occasion that they won the title.
Three-times champions Nigeria have won seven and drawn two of their seven meetings since then although in their very last match – a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw in 2017 – the result was subsequently overturned because Nigeria fielded Abdullahi Shehu when he was suspended.
A 3-0 walkover win was awarded to Algeria although it was academic as Nigeria had already qualified for the World Cup.
“If we manage to achieve success here, we will go down in history,” Nigeria forward Alex Iwobi told the BBC. “I know it’s always been our childhood dream to win as many competitions as we can.”
Algeria are in their seventh Afcon semi-final, their first since 2010, and have looked one of the most solid teams, although some chinks were exposed by Ivory Coast in the quarter-final which went to a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
Not yet a Bet9ja Member? Sign up today and get your 100% Welcome Bonus, the biggest welcome offer in Nigeria. https://register.bet9ja.com/?promocode=BBNBLOG
Source: (Reuters)
