Nigeria's Super Eagles and Algeria's Desert Foxes are set to rekindle an old rivalry in what promises to be an explosive AFCON 2025 quarter-final clash. Hosted at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in Morocco on Saturday, January 10, 2026, this match carries significant weight, marked by a compelling revenge narrative stemming from the 2019 semi-finals.

This encounter is no ordinary fixture; for Nigeria, it represents a chance at redemption for the heartbreak suffered in Egypt in 2019. In that semi-final, Algeria's captain Riyad Mahrez delivered a dramatic, 95th-minute free-kick that crushed Nigeria's dreams, securing a 2-1 victory for the Desert Foxes who went on to lift their second continental title. History also leans heavily in Algeria's favor, as they have twice beaten Nigeria en route to winning the AFCON title, first in 1990 and then again in 2019. The 1990 tournament saw Algeria thrash Nigeria 5-1 in the opener and beat them again by a lone goal in the final. This historical dominance adds an extra layer of challenge for the three-time African champions, Nigeria, who Algeria is also unbeaten against in their last four games, including one technical 3-0 win.

Both teams enter the quarter-final in formidable form. Nigeria's Super Eagles have been a clinical force in the tournament, maintaining a 100% winning record in Morocco. They comfortably won all three group games before delivering a ruthless 4-0 thrashing of Mozambique in the Round of 16. With a tournament-high 12 goals, Nigeria boasts an impressive attacking lineup, led by the flair of Ademola Lookman and the firepower of Victor Osimhen, who is confirmed to be available despite an earlier clash with Lookman against Mozambique. Akor Adams is also likely to start after two assists against Mozambique. Former Nigerian star Mutiu Adepoju, a member of the 1994 AFCON-winning squad, has lauded the team's dominant display and urged them to sustain their impressive form, emphasizing their continuous improvement game by game.

Algeria, under coach Vladimir Petković, has also demonstrated exceptional resilience and a perfect winning record. They navigated a tough path, winning all three group games without conceding a goal, before securing an epic 1-0 extra-time victory over DR Congo in the Round of 16. The decisive moment came in the 119th minute when substitute Adil Boulbina scored a stunning goal, propelling the Fennecs into the quarter-finals. Captain Riyad Mahrez, who has already scored three goals in AFCON 2025, acknowledges the threat posed by Nigeria but remains confident, stating, "Nigeria? We know them well, the match won’t be easy. Another last-minute free kick? We will see, anything is possible."

The much-anticipated match is scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2026, with kickoff times at 8:00 PM WAT (Nigeria), 7:00 PM GMT, 2:00 PM ET (USA), and 11:00 PM CET (Europe). Fans can catch the action live across various platforms: In Nigeria, NTA Sports and BON offer free-to-air coverage, while SuperSport provides pay-TV access. Algerian viewers can tune into EPTV and BeIN Sports. Globally, streaming options include CAF YouTube (with geo-restrictions), SuperSport Stream, and beIN Sports Connect. Highlights and audio updates will be available via the CAF app, BBC Sport (audio), and Pulse Sports live blog.

As Eric Chelle’s men chase a fourth AFCON title and Algeria defends its pride and historical dominance, this quarter-final promises to be a true test of championship credentials. With both teams in top form and a rich history between them, all eyes will be on Marrakech to see who claims victory in this African heavyweight clash.