Algeria vs Nigeria Prediction & Betting Tips (10 January)

First in its group thanks to successes against Sudan 3-0, Burkina Faso 1-0 and Equatorial Guinea 1-3, Algeria qualified without difficulty for the round of 16. The Fennecs faced the Democratic Republic of Congo and snatched qualification after extra time 1-0 after. They are restoring their image on the continental scene, having not escaped from a CAN group stage since their title in 2019. Led by Vladimir Petkovic for almost two years, the Algerian selection qualified for the competition without conceding the slightest defeat and stunned the competition in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. At the top of its group, it marked its return to the international event twelve years after its round of 16 in Brazil. Riyad Mahrez and his teammates are undefeated in all competitions in the last 10 matches: 7 wins, 3 draws.

 Nigeria remains the only team in this CAN to have won all its matches. The unfortunate finalist of the previous edition upheld the hierarchy against Tanzania 2-1, Tunisia 3-2 and Uganda 1-3 during the group stage, before inflicting a correction on Mozambique in the round of 16 4-0. If they also act as leaders of African football, the Super Eagles have not benefited from the expansion of qualifiers for the World Cup, from 32 in 2022 to 48 selections in 2026. Their second place in the qualifiers forced them to go through the African play-offs. They then came up against DR Congo 1-1, 3-4 TAB at the gates of the intercontinental play-off final. 

Algeria continues its journey without replacement full-back Hadjam (16 caps), who returned to his club Young Boys in Bern to receive treatment. At the same time, there is also a risk that the other secondary defenders Tougaï (Espérance de Tunis, 28 sel) and Chergui (Paris FC, 4 sel), already absent in the round of 16, will forfeit. More problematic, the centerpiece of the midfield, Bennacer (ex OM, 56 caps), left prematurely against the DRC and could complete the list of packages. Striker Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord, no goals in 12 seasons) used off the bench is suspended. The best scorer of the Fennecs Mahrez (Al-Ahli, 37 goals in 110 appearances), triple scorer during the group stage, was not able to weigh on the defense of the DRC. It was the incoming Boulbina (Al-Duhail, 7 goals in 9 caps) who delivered his country at the end of the suspense. Having become number 1 in goal, Luca Zidane (Granada, 4 sel) had three clean sheets in the competition.

 Star strikers Osimhen (Galatasaray, 34 goals in 49 seasons) and Lookman (Atalanta, 38 caps, 11 goals) have been supporting Nigeria since the start of the CAN. The first city has 3 goals, including a double scored in the round of 16, when his teammate was involved in a seventh goal (3 goals, 4 assists) in the tournament by improving his statistics against Mozambique. They will be present for this quarter-final unlike the starting central defender Bassey (Fulham, 42 sel), who is suspended. Center forward Adams (Sevilla FC), author of a goal and 2 assists in this CAN, remains in doubt for personal reasons. Nigeria lost its striker Dessers (Panathinaikos, 11 caps, 4 goals) to injury for the rest of the competition and is playing the tournament without Aina (Nottingham Forest) and the experienced Troost Ekong (Al-Kholood) in defense. The attackers Iheanacho (Celtic), Moffi (Nice) and Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest) were victims of their coach's choices.