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SEMI-FINAL BOUND: NIGERIA SECURE A DOMINANT 2-0 VICTORY TO ELIMINATE RIVALS ALGERIA
Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams secure Nigeria’s place in the AFCON semi-final. Analysis of Algeria’s exit and Ndidi’s injury concerns.
Nigeria looked every bit the favourites as they punched their ticket to the AFCON semi-final, setting up a clash with Morocco after Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams sent Algeria packing.
Right from the start, you could sense the nerves. Both teams played it safe, afraid to push too many players forward and get caught on the break. By the 15th minute, the match finally found its rhythm, but neither side really tested the goalkeepers.
Then came Algeria’s big mistake in the 23rd minute. They coughed up the ball in transition, and suddenly, Nigeria had a four-on-two. Ademola Lookman found himself in space and fired off a shot that forced a sharp save from Luca Zidane.
Not long after, Osimhen looked certain to score. He broke clear, with only Zidane to beat, but Rayan Aït-Nouri slid in and stole the ball away at the last second—saving Algeria from going behind in the 27th minute.
Algeria had their own defensive heroics moments later. On the 29th, Calvin Bassey got a head on a dangerous free kick from Lookman, and as the ball bounced towards the line, Ramy Bensbaini scrambled back and hacked it clear. Zidane was beaten, but Bensbaini bailed him out.
Then, in the 36th minute, Akor Adams found himself with the kind of chance strikers dream about. Alex Iwobi won the ball in midfield, threaded a perfect pass, and Adams just had the keeper to beat. But, maybe feeling the pressure, he skied it over the bar—a golden opportunity wasted.
Despite all the action, the first half ended 0-0.
But it didn’t stay that way for long. Barely ninety seconds into the second half, Bruno Onyemaechi whipped in a cross to the back post, and Osimhen soared above everyone to head Nigeria in front.
Just ten minutes later, Adams made up for his earlier miss. Iwobi slipped Osimhen down the left, Osimhen beat his man, and squared it for Adams, who calmly sidestepped the keeper and tapped it home. Nigeria now had one foot in the semi-final.
On the hour mark, Riyad Mahrez left the field—his last AFCON appearance. The Algerian captain, famous for his spells at Leicester and Manchester City, leaves behind a legacy as a national legend and a role model for younger players.
The only real worry for Nigeria came when Wilfred Ndidi limped off in the 68th minute after picking up a muscle injury. Losing their skipper won’t sit well with coach Éric Chelle or the fans.
Algeria finally managed a shot in the 80th minute, but Baghdad Boundjah’s hopeful strike from a distance never looked like it would trouble the keeper. Desperation had set in.
Adams nearly grabbed a second late on, meeting an Osimhen cross with a powerful header, only to see the ball crash off the post.
As time ran out, Algeria’s frustration boiled over. They resorted to needless fouls, but the fight had gone out of them. Nigeria saw out the rest of the match and now heads confidently into the semi-finals, still chasing the trophy.
MARSEILLE MELTDOWN: WHY MEDHI BENATIA QUIT AFTER A BITTER MASON GREENWOOD FALLOUT
Marseille meltdown: Medhi Benatia resigns as Sporting Director after clashes with Mason Greenwood. Get the latest on De Zerbi’s exit.
Marseille’s sporting director, Medhi Benatia, has quit his job after reports of friction with Mason Greenwood, the former Manchester United striker.
It’s a tough time for the club. Benatia’s exit comes with pressure piling up; Marseille’s going through a rough patch that also saw Roberto De Zerbi walk out. De Zerbi left after that brutal 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The team are sitting in fourth, and they just missed out on the next round of the Champions League in dramatic fashion.
Benatia, who used to play for Morocco and had a solid career with Bayern Munich, Roma, and Juventus, confirmed he’s stepping down. In his statement, he didn’t hold back: “Since I got here, I’ve poured my heart into this job with one goal: getting Marseille back where it belongs. I know this club inside out. I understand what it asks of you and the passion behind it.”
He tried to keep things positive: “We’re still in the fight. Making the Champions League is within reach, and we’re still gunning for the Coupe de France. Even with the setbacks and bad luck, the project’s still moving forward on the pitch. But I can’t ignore what’s happening around us.”
Benatia pointed to growing frustration and a communication breakdown: “In Marseille, results speak for themselves. You know I don’t sugarcoat things. With all the tension in management, I’ve handed in my resignation because, to me, the club always comes first. I don’t want to be an obstacle or a burden.”
He finished with a note of regret: “I did everything I could, but I couldn’t calm things down around the team even though I really believe they can hit their targets.”
Apparently, Benatia and Greenwood just didn’t get along. Greenwood’s been crucial for Marseille since joining in 2024, and while De Zerbi backed him publicly, things between Benatia and Greenwood reportedly got icy. L’Equipe claimed the two barely spoke, and Benatia didn’t hide his criticism on or off the field.
Some say Benatia got fed up with Greenwood ignoring commercial duties last summer and not caring about the fallout. Now De Zerbi’s on the market, a familiar name for clubs like Manchester United and Tottenham, both hunting for new managers.
De Zerbi’s already been linked to United before. After his stint at Brighton, he was apparently considered for the Old Trafford job before they stuck with Erik ten Hag.
ARRESTS AT THE MKM: WHY POLICE INTERVENED DURING HULL CITY’S FA CUP DEFEAT
Police made arrests at the MKM Stadium as Chelsea beat Hull 4-0. Read the full report on Pedro Neto's hat-trick and the fan fallout.
Hull City say police made arrests after fans started up discriminatory chants during their 4-0 FA Cup loss to Chelsea on Friday night. Early in the game, the stadium’s PA system cut in with a warning: stop the chanting, or face arrest. Stewards and police didn’t mess around in the second half; the club announced they’d actually detained some supporters.
The chant targeted Chelsea and was homophobic. It’s not the first time this kind of thing has happened. Back in 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service made it clear that a certain lyric in the chant is a homophobic slur, and using it can land you in legal trouble. Just ask Paul Boardman, a Liverpool fan who got slapped with a Wembley ban and a £500 fine for shouting it at a train station.
Meanwhile, the game itself got away from Hull. Chelsea rolled over them, with Pedro Neto bagging a hat-trick. Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic still found a few positives, though. He liked the team’s defensive setup and thought they could’ve used their counterattacks better. “We deserved at least one goal,” he said, “but if we play like this, we’ll be in a good spot in the Championship.” He’s already thinking ahead to the next match against QPR.
On the other side, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior was back at the MKM Stadium, his old stomping ground. He was buzzing about his team’s attitude and effort, especially in the first half. “Hull are flying in the Championship, and I hope they make the Premier League,” he said. “But our mentality and quality tonight made the difference.” He singled out Pedro Neto for his work rate and finishing, but really, he seemed proud of the whole squad. “Everyone put in a shift. The mentality was spot on.”
The night was extra special for Rosenior. He had more than 20 family members in the stands and got warm applause from both sets of fans. “This club means a lot to my family and me,” he said. “I really appreciate the welcome. It was a good night all around.”
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