Algeria defender Rayan Aït-Nouri has admitted his side faces a stern test when they come up against Nigeria in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The North Africans booked their place in the last eight after edging past DR Congo in a tightly contested Round of 16 encounter, setting up a heavyweight clash with the Super Eagles, who cruised past Mozambique to reach this stage.
“It will be a very tough match,” Aït-Nouri said. “We know that Nigeria is a strong team, and now only the strongest teams remain. It’s sure to be a big game, and we’ll try to prepare for it in the best way possible.”
The Wolves defender also expressed satisfaction with Algeria’s route to the quarterfinals, praising his teammates’ mental strength against DR Congo.
“Honestly, I’m satisfied with the way we qualified. The most important thing was getting through against a very strong Congolese team with outstanding players. Everyone was mentally present, and in the end, qualification is what matters most,” he added.
Algeria and Nigeria will meet at the Marrakech Stadium on January 10, with a place in the semifinals at stake. The winner will face either Morocco or Cameroon in the last four.
The two sides last met at AFCON in the 2019 semifinals, where Algeria claimed a 2-1 victory before going on to lift the trophy.
