The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team for the game between Nigeria and Algeria have replied to claims made by the North Africans that they were denied a clear penalty in the course of the 0-2 defeat in yesterday’s quarter final.

Algeria are claiming that the ball came off the hands of Semi Ajayi in the box, before Nigeria scored the goals that earned them a well deserved win.

Officials and players of the Algerian team cited the incident as a game changer in the tie. A sentiment which prompted the FA to file an official complaint demanding an explanation behind the decision not to award them a penalty.

We can exclusively reveal that they were told in clear terms that the incident was checked and cleared after noticing that the ball came off the thigh of Semi Ajayi, before hitting his hand as he attempt to cut out a cross.

Their explanation is in line with the revised hand ball rule by world football governing body FIFA.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle is a target for the senior national team of Tunisia who are on the lookout for a coach ahead of their campaign at the world cup, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle has emerged as the most sought after coach on the African continent with the way Nigeria have performed at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, where they are already through to the semi final.

Tunisia who were beaten 2-3 by Nigeria in the second group game sacked their coach Sami Trabelsi after crashing out of the tournament in the round of 16.

The football body of the North Africans have sounded out Chelle, whose contract situation with Nigeria remains unclear despite meeting the target of getting to the semi final of the AFCON.

Tunisia per what we gathered are willing to pay the coach $100,000 a month, and they will officially contact his camp after the ongoing AFCON.

Other African country in Angola and Guinea have also tabled their proposal to the former coach of Mali.

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has made his expectations known ahead of the semi final clash against Morocco at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria booked a spot in the semi final with a comprehensive 2-0 win over Algeria. A win that cemented their spot as favourite to lift the tournament.

Chelle is however not getting carried away, and has already switched his attention to the game against the host. A team he reckoned is a very good team with a good coach.

He is however optimistic of the chances of his team to get a good result, owing to how they have performed so far in the tournament.

“Morocco, it’s a big team. It’s not easy to be the host country because there’s a lot of pressure. But there’s a lot of work behind it”, he said after the win over Algeria yesterday.

“Their coach is very good and they have good players. All I hope is that it will be to witness a great match. The best will win. I often hear people say ‘Yes, but Walid Regragui…’ but just try to put yourself in the shoes of a national team coach.”

Former France international midfielder Samir Nasir has praised the Super Eagles of Nigeria for the manner which they secured a 2-0 win over Algeria in the quarter final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria sealed a spot in the semi final with a comprehensive 2-0 win and will now face the host Morocco in the semi final, after their 2-0 win over Cameroon yesterday.

Top striker for the Nigerian team Victor Osimhen scored and assisted another for Akor Adams to take Nigeria’s goal count in the tournament to 14 in five games.

Nasri who worked as a television analyst for the game says the Nigerian team were way superior than their counterparts from Algeria, and truly deserve to win the game.

“Bravo to the Nigerian team for their impressive physical athleticism and well-deserved tactical mastery in the match content”, the former Arsenal and Manchester City star said after the game.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has revealed why his team found the win against a very difficult Algerian side simple in the quarter final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Super Eagles played at a very top level against Algeria beating them 2-0 to book a spot in the semi final, where they will be up against the host Morocco.

Victor Osimhen scored the opener before setting up Akor Adams for the second goal of the game. A visible happy Chelle was full of praises for his players after the game.

” We played a very good game and deserve to win. The goals we scored very early into the second half and another later on made the game much easier for us”, he explained.

” Now you can see that my players understand better what I want from them and it’s why we are playing this way and winning, but we haven’t won anything yet”, he stated.

Head coach of Algeria Vladimir Petkovic has blamed unfair officiating as part of the reasons why his team were beaten 2-0 by Nigeria in the quarter final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Petkovic whose team came into the game with just one goal conceded in the tournament were made to look ordinary by a Nigerian team, who were far dominant and better in all areas.

Victor Osimhen scored one and set up another for Jerome Akor Adams to seal the win for Nigeria, who are now through to the semi final where they will take on the host Morocco.

“We were missing several things. They didn’t let us dribble, there were referee decisions that weren’t easy, but our opponent was particularly strong and showed their qualities. Physically, we were tired because of the last match, which was tense”, he explained.

He however rounded it up by paying tribute to the performance of the Super Eagles, who in his words made it really hard for his team with the way they attacked.

 “Do I have to tell the truth or should I be political [about the match]? Nigeria deserved to win this match. They were better than us. It was difficult to get into this match… We were hit left and right…”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Victor Osimhen says he isn’t keen on surpassing the tally of Rashidi Yekini to become the all time top scorer of the senior national team of Nigeria after moving two goals closer to the record with his goal today for Nigeria in their 2-0 win over Algeria at the AFCON, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria booked a spot in the semi final of the ongoing tournament with the win and will now face the host Morocco for a spot in the final. Osimhen scored the opener for Nigeria in the game.

The goal moved him closer to the record of Yekini, but the 26 year old says it isn’t something that he is eager to achieve, and still sees the legendary forward as the greatest striker to have ever played for Nigeria.

He said his aim is to help the team win and not any personal accolade : “Not at all. It doesn’t matter if I equal the record or surpass it. Yekini is the best striker Nigeria has ever produced. I just want to win something for my country and I am happy that with my team mates, I’m on that path.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The top striker of the senior national team of Nigeria Victor Osimhen has revealed the main quality that the power his team to a 2-0 win over Algeria in the quarter final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria made light work of the challenge of Algeria with a comprehensive 2-0 win made possible largely by the effort of top striker Victor Osimhen, who scored and gave an assist in the dominant win.

He opened the scoring in the 47th minute with a well placed header from a Bruno Onyemaechi cross. It was the first goal that the goalkeeper of Algeria Luca Zidane has conceded in the tournament.

Osimhen turned provider for the second goal by latching onto a defence splitting pass from Alex Iwobi to set up Jerome Akor , who rounded the goalkeeper before slotting into an empty net.

Speaking on the win after picking up his man of the match award , the Galatasaray striker said even though Algeria is a very tough team they were able to triumph largely due to their superior quality.

” We faced a tough team but our quality allowed us to win the match” , he said.

Nigeria have booked a place in the semi final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations with a comprehensive 2-0 win over Algeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Victor Osimhen who was largely criticized for his conduct in the quarter final 4-0 win over Mozambique ran the show with a goal and an assist.

We rate the players on parade for Nigeria in the game.

Stanley Nwabali – Didn’t have anything to do in goal at all. Only faced his first shot on target in the 80th minute. Not enough to earn a rating.

Bright Osayi-Samuel – Had his best performance in a Super Eagles shirt. Won all of his duels and joined the attack with ease…..9/10

Bruno Onyemaechi – Kept Riyad Mahrez in check. Can easily pass as the most improved player in the team and now the undisputed choice at left back. Provided the assist for the opener and had so many good moments…..9/10

Semi Ajayi – Composed and confident all through the game. Appears to have found a good rhythm with Calvin Bassey at the heart of the defence of the Nigerian team….. 8/10

Calvin Bassey – It’s not an exaggeration to say he is so far the best defender in the tournament. Had another performance to prove that assertion right. Above all avoided a caution that would have ruled him out of the semi final…… 9/10

Wilfred Ndidi – A trojan in the middle all through the game. Unfortunately will be suspended for the semi final against Morocco after picking up another yellow card….. 8/10

Frank Onyeka – That tank was his usual industrious self. Combative and full of energy and was also able to escape a booking that would have cost him a spot in the semi final…… 8/10

Alex Iwobi – The orchestrator of anything good that Nigeria did in the game and by extension in the tournament so far. He was heavily involved in both goals scored by Nigeria but in particular his defence splitting pass was perfect for Osimhen to set up Akor for the second goal….. 9/10

Jerome Akor – Could have scored a hattrick with two glaring chances that he failed to convert. He however took the goal that sealed Nigeria’s win with a level of calm expected of a top striker with the manner that he rounded the goalkeeper….. 8/10

Ademola Lookman – A performance filled with desire. Tracked back to help out defensively and was always available for a pass. Unfortunate not to have a goal or assist….. 8/10

Victor Osimhen – The man of the match by a mile. A goal and assist says it all but not the entire definition of his performance, which also involved putting the press high up the pitch….. 10/10

Substitutes:

Moses Simon – His major role was to ensure the team keep the ball and also provide cover for the full back and he excelled in doing both….. 7/10

Raphael Onyedika – Slotted into the midfield with ease making it hard to notice the absence of Ndidi….. 7/10

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman