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.

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.

They hanged on to claim a well deserved win and also a spot in the semi final, where they will take on the host Morocco.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has kept his faith in the same set of players who started the 4-0 win over Mozambique in the round of 16 for today’s quarter final game against Algeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

It will be the third time in this tournament that he will be starting a game with this set of players, since he first used them in the 3-2 win over Tunisia in their second group game.

For today’s game he has maintained the same diamond formation with the trio of captain Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi as his midfield three, behind the trio of Jerome Akor, Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen who will lead the attack.

The back four stays the same with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali also keeping his spot in goal aiming for his second clean sheet of the tournament.

Starting XI:

Stanley Nwabali

Bright Osayi-Samuel

Bruno Onyemaechi

Calvin Bassey

Semi Ajayi

Frank Onyeka

Wilfred Ndidi

Alex Iwobi

Ademola Lookman

Victor Osimhen

Jerome Akor

German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen has officially confirmed that Nigeria international striker Victor Boniface will undergo knee surgery, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Boniface joined the team on a season long loan deal from Bayer Leverkusen and has so far made 11 appearances with two assists, and that will be his last contribution to the club.

He is now set to undergo surgery on his knee, which is seen as a better option to solving what has been a huge source of concern and setback to his career. It was the long standing knee issue that led to the collapse of his proposed loan to AC Milan in the summer.

The surgery will take place today and will be performed by Prof. Dr. Christian Fink in Innsbruck. This is the result of an examination by the knee specialist on Friday.

Professor Fink’s recommendation aligns with the statements of doctors from Werder Bremen and Bayer 04 Leverkusen, all of whom were involved in the process of reaching a decision. Boniface agreed to surgery after the consultation in Austria.

“We are pleased that we have now found a solution and that Victor will undergo surgery. This provides clarity for all parties. Due to the rehabilitation process, we no longer expect Victor to play for Werder this season,” explained Peter Niemeyer, Head of Professional Football at Werder Bremen.

However the loan agreement between Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen will remain in effect until the end of the season.

Super Eagles midfield star at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from English Premier League side Nottingham Forest in the January transfer window, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.

Lazio have been busy in the January transfer window with the transfer of Valentin Castellanos to West Ham and Matteo Guendouzi to Fenerbahce. Dele-Bashiru might be the next in line for an exit.

According to LaLazioSiamoNoi, Forest decided to go for the former Manchester City Academy prospect after keeping tabs on him for a while. Lazio values the 24 year old at around €15 million plus bonuses.

Talks is said to have started between all parties involved in the proposed transfer with an idea of reaching a conclusion, before he returns from AFCON duties with Nigeria who are in the quarter final of the tournament.

Forest on their part are more likely to ask for a loan with an option to buy due to financial restrictions on their part, a move that Lazio will likely reject unless it comes with an obligation to buy.

Capped 13 times by Nigeria at senior level, he has made a total of 37 appearances for Lazio since his transfer from Turkish side Hatayspor.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

English Championship side Wrexham have knocked out a Premier League club for the first time in 26 years in the FA Cup after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Nottingham Forest, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The minnows saw their two goal lead cancelled by Forest to draw 3-3, and both teams remained locked in that same scoreline after extra time forcing the game to go to penalty kicks.

Wrexham came out victorious during the shoot out with Arthur Okonkwo, who recently concluded his nationality switch from England to Nigeria emerging as the hero of the night.

Okonkwo made crucial saves from Igor Jesus and Omari Hutchinson to secure progression into the Fourth Round with a 4-3 win on penalties.

Algeria will be without the service of three of their players when they take on the Super Eagles of Nigeria in tomorrow’s AFCON quarter final game at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Ahead of the game which will be one of the ties to watch in the quarter final, Algeria had their final training session and three players who were in a race against time to be fit for the game didn’t take part in the session.

The trio of Ismaël Bennacer, Samir Chergui, and Mohamed Tougaï were absent effectively ruling them out of the game, leaving coach Vladimir Petkovic with a decision to make on their possible replacement.

Meanwhile it’s entirely different for the Nigerians who head into the game with a clean bill of health, with Ryan Alebiosu the only doubt ahead of the game back in full training after the cut he picked up against Mozambique in the final group game. His only game at the tournament so far.

Italian giants Inter Milan have laid out plans to strengthen their team in the January transfer window to make for a proper challenge for the league and the UEFA Champions League, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

One of the areas they are keen to address is their ageing defence, and already targets have been identified in various positions in the back four with the aim of starting the process in January.

One of the targets is Nigeria international defender Calvin Bassey, who is currently with the senior national team of Nigeria at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, where they are through to the quarter final.

Bassey has a running contract with Fulham to 2027 with the club also having the option of triggering a one year extension, putting them in a strong position when it comes to negotiating a transfer fee.

Inter Milan sees the summer transfer window as the most viable time to get the 26 year old, but will test the resolve of Fulham with a bid as they bid to increase their depth at centre back for their domestic and continental challenge.

The centre-back has 41 caps for Nigeria and has made 16 appearances, scoring one goal, in the Premier League this season. Transfermarkt estimates his current market value to be €28.00m.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The first choice goalkeeper of the senior national team of Algeria Luca Zidane is hoping to keep his record of not conceding a goal at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations when they take on the Super Eagles of Nigeria in tomorrow’s AFCON quarter final game.

Zidane goes into the game with a record of not conceding a goal in the three games he has been in goal. The only goal Algeria conceded was against Equatorial Guinea a game which he was rested as they have already booked a spot in the round of 16.

He returned and picked up another clean sheet in the 1-0 win over DR Congo, and will be hoping the run continues tomorrow against a rampant Nigerian attacker that has so far scored at least two goals in all of their four games at the tournament.

Led by Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Jerome Akor the trio have ten goal contributions for Nigeria in the tournament, which Zidane feels will be a tougher and different test from other teams.

“We know that Nigeria is tough, but we have our own qualities too, we’re focusing on us, on our strengths, we’ll be ready. Conceding zero goals? That’s good, but it’s also a collective effort; against Nigeria it’ll be tough, but we hope it continues Insha Allah”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The son of football legend Zinedine Zidane will pose a huge threat to the Super Eagles when they take on Algeria in tomorrow’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter final game, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Luca Zidane who represents Algeria, unlike his father who played for France has so far emerged as one of the top goalkeepers of the tournament after four games.

So far he hasn’t conceded a single goal in three games , the only game Algeria conceded which was against Equatorial Guinea he was rested for the game because they have already booked their spot in the round of 16.

He returned for the round of 16 game and kept a clean sheet in the 1-0 win over DR Congo, keeping his record of not conceding a goal intact ahead of tomorrow’s game against Nigeria.

This time around he will be up against a Nigerian attack that has scored at least two goals in all of their games at the tournament so far. They have also scored at least three times in their three games in the tournament, including a comprehensive 4-0 win over Mozambique in the round of 16.

Led by Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Jerome Akor, the 27 year old shot stopper will no doubt have his hands full against the trio who have a total of ten goal contributions so far.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman