Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic has admitted that Nigeria’s Super Eagles fully deserved their 2–0 victory over his side in their 2025 AFCON quarterfinal clash at the Marrakech Stadium on Saturday, www.aclsports.com reports.
Nigeria dominated proceedings from start to finish, with second-half strikes from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams sealing a victory that booked the Super Eagles a place in the semi-finals of the tournament in Morocco.
Petkovic, speaking after the match, praised Nigeria’s organisation, intensity, and cutting edge, conceding that his team failed to match the Super Eagles across key phases of the game as Eric Chelle’s men continued their impressive tournament run in Morocco.
“First of all, I want to congratulate Nigeria on qualifying. They were better than us,” Vladimir Petkovic said.
“We didn’t start the match well, especially in the first half, where we were very disorganized. After the break, things improved because our opponents couldn’t maintain the same tempo, and we controlled the game better.
“The problem was that the ball wasn’t getting through the lines: our passes were often intercepted, which prevented us from developing our game. I regret this elimination, while also congratulating my team on their performance throughout the tournament. The Nigerian players demonstrated their quality on the pitch,” the Bosnian added.
”The players are devastated by this elimination, because we thought we could go far. They gave their all and put in some great performances in the previous matches. We accept this defeat; that’s football. We must continue to work to improve. We must remain dignified and not question everything,” the 62-year-old concluded.
Nigeria will now face host nation Morocco for a place in the tournament final in a blockbuster semi-final clash at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Wednesday.
