Nigeria, Jan. 11 -- For all the noise, history, and scars that usually accompany a Nigeria-Algeria showdown, this one passed with surprising calm.

At the Stade de Marrakech, the Nigeria Super Eagles delivered a performance of authority and composure, dispatching Algeria 2-0 to book their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

It was not flawless. It was not ruthless in front of goal. But it was controlled, mature, and, most importantly, convincing.

After a first half that saw Eric Chelle's men waste a flurry of chances, Nigeria returned from the interval with renewed intensity and clarity, overwhelming Vladimir Petkovic's Fennec Foxes in a second-half display that underlined their growing status as genuine title co...