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Led by Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Nigeria’s form at the Africa Cup of Nations has offered cause for optimism ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight quarter-final against Algeria despite reports of unrest in the squad.

The Super Eagles arrived in Marrakesh for the last-eight tie as the top scorers at the tournament with 12 goals in their four games so far.

Wins against Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda in the group stage were followed by a 4-0 demolition of Mozambique in Fes in the last 16, the biggest victory for anyone in an AFCON knockout tie since 2010.

Osimhen and Lookman, winners of the African player of the year prize in 2023 and 2024 respectively, have played starring roles with three goals each as Nigeria target Cup of Nations success as a tonic for their World Cup woes.

“The team is improving every single game,” said Lookman, who has also set up four goals at the tournament, after the Mozambique victory.

Nigeria have started strongly despite the team returning to Morocco reeling in the wake of their failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Having only just sneaked into the play-offs for the tournament in North America, the Super Eagles saw their hopes ended in a penalty shoot-out loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rabat in November.

They will therefore miss a second consecutive World Cup having appeared at six of the previous seven competitions.

That represents a fiasco for a football-mad nation with by far the largest population on the continent, but the Cup of Nations has a tendency to throw up unexpected success stories.

Ivory Coast’s incredible revival at the last AFCON two years ago, when they were on the brink of elimination in the group stage as hosts before coming back to win the trophy with victory against Nigeria in the final, is the perfect example.

READ ALSO: [2025 AFCON] NSC Explains Reason For Delay In Payment Of Super Eagles’ Bonus

Bust-ups and bonuses 

Of the nine African nations who qualified directly for this year’s World Cup, Ghana and Cape Verde failed to make it to Morocco for the Cup of Nations.

Nigeria, meanwhile, are hoping to claim a fourth continental crown to soothe their disappointment at not being among the teams bound for the United States, Canada and Mexico.

This week marks a year since Eric Chelle, a former Mali player and coach, took over the Super Eagles but all he can do is try to keep his focus on Algeria amid much off-field noise.

Lookman had to play down suggestions of a bust-up with Osimhen in the last-16 win, when the latter appeared angry at his teammate for not giving him the ball.

The Galatasaray striker was then substituted and took no part in victory celebrations on the pitch with his teammates at the end of the game.

Atalanta forward Lookman later told journalists: “He’s our number one guy, everyone knows this. Top striker, top player, the rest is not really important.”

Chelle must hope harmony is restored for the game against Algeria, a repeat of the 2019 AFCON semi-final which the Super Eagles lost 2-1 in Cairo to a late Riyad Mahrez goal.

The Final 8️⃣ Awaits #Naija4TheWin #ALGNGA pic.twitter.com/zE2Q1EY3ZN

However, preparations for the showdown have been overshadowed by reports of a dispute over bonuses, with multiple sources in recent days saying the team had not been paid money promised following their first four matches.

That led to talk of a training boycott, but reports on Thursday said the issue had been resolved, with Nigeria Football Federation president Ibrahim Musa Gusau telling ESPN that “payments had been processed”.

A Nigeria team spokesperson confirmed to AFP that the squad was training as planned in Marrakesh, as Chelle and his players eye a place in the semi-finals.

Manchester City added to their attacking arsenal on Friday with the signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for a reported £65 million ($87 million).

The 26-year-old, who has scored 10 Premier League goals this season, has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal.

Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham were amongst the other clubs interested in the London-born Ghana international, who had a buyout clause that would reportedly expire on Saturday.

“I am so proud to have joined Manchester City,” said Semenyo.

“I have watched City over the last decade under Pep Guardiola, and they have been the dominant team in the Premier League as well as achieving amazing things in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

“They have set the highest of standards and it’s a club with world-class players, world-class facilities and one of the greatest managers ever in Pep.”

READ ALSO: Real Madrid Beat Atletico, Set Up Clasico Spanish Super Cup Final

His final act after three years with the Cherries was scoring a stoppage-time winner to beat Tottenham 3-2 and end an 11-game winless run on Wednesday.

City are hoping Semenyo can boost their challenge for silverware on four fronts in 2026.

Guardiola’s men trail Arsenal by six points at the top of the Premier League and have FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League fixtures in the coming weeks.

City’s options in the wide areas are currently limited with Savinho out injured and Omar Marmoush representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Semenyo’s transfer is the first major move by Premier League clubs in the January window.

City are also in the market to boost their defensive options after losing Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol to injuries.

Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is their prime target.

Semenyo has enjoyed a meteoric rise since being shipped out on loan three times by Bristol City early in his career.

He eventually earned his move to the Premier League in 2023 and has blossomed into one of the most potent wingers in the English top-flight in the past two seasons under Andoni Iraola.

“I have so much scope for improvement, so to be at this club, at this stage of my career, is perfect for me. It’s a real privilege to be here,” added Semenyo.

“My best football is yet to come, I am sure of that. And City are in a great position –- still involved in four competitions. I really feel I can help them have a strong second half of the season.”

Semenyo could make his debut on Saturday when City host third-tier Exeter in the FA Cup at the Etihad Stadium.

Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 in a tight Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Saudi Arabia on Thursday to set up a Clasico final clash against rivals Barcelona.

Fede Valverde’s free-kick and a Rodrygo Goes strike helped Madrid claim a fifth consecutive victory across all competitions, with Alexander Sorloth pulling one back for Diego Simeone’s Atletico, who came up short in Jeddah.

READ ALSO: Gonzalo Garcia Hits Treble As Real Madrid Thrash Betis Without Mbappe

Alonso was close to the sack after a run of inconsistent form towards the end of 2025 but his team have slowly found their footing.

The Spanish coach led Madrid to a win over Barcelona in his first Clasico at the helm in October, before his team began to slump.

With French superstar Kylian Mbappe out as he recovers from a knee sprain, Alonso kept young striker Gonzalo Garcia in the centre of the attack after his hat-trick against Real Betis on Sunday.

Atletico beat their city rivals 5-2 when the teams met in September in a La Liga derby but this was a far closer affair.

Los Blancos took the lead after just two minutes when Valverde’s ferocious free-kick flew past Sorloth in a poorly-positioned wall and rocketed past Jan Oblak.

The Norwegian Atletico forward might have done more to block it and Oblak got his hand to the shot but could not keep it out because of the sheer power.

Valverde celebrated vehemently, slapping his own head, clearly delighted at netting his first goal of a difficult season to date.

By taking the lead Real Madrid earned the right to sit deeper and force Atletico to try and attack them to pull back level.

Madrid hit the Rojiblancos when they could on the counter, with Oblak saving well from Rodrygo after he floated inside from the right.

Atletico began to create some chances and could have pulled level before the interval.

Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois tipped away Sorloth’s header and then the target man clumsily nodded Conor Gallagher’s cross off-target from close range.

Julian Alvarez, who has just two goals in his last 11 matches, fired towards goal but was also thwarted by Courtois.

Rodrygo extended Madrid’s lead in the 55th minute with his third goal in five games, continuing a rich vein of form across the past few weeks.

The Brazilian found a gap to burst through in the middle of Atletico’s defence and kept his cool to sweep the ball past Oblak.

Sorloth Strikes At Last

Three minutes later Atletico hit back, with Sorloth finally finding the net with a header from Giuliano Simeone’s cross.

The striker gave defender Raul Asencio just enough of a shove to put him off without being penalised for it before nodding in.

Atletico came close in the final stages as they tried in vain to force extra-time, with Courtois saving an acrobatic Antoine Griezmann effort, and Marcos Llorente whipping a shot agonisingly wide.

Alvarez flashed a shot across the face of goal deep in stoppage time as Atletico’s hopes of silverware in Saudi Arabia came to a quick end.

Madrid face Barcelona on Sunday in the final at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium after the Catalans thrashed Athletic Bilbao 5-0 on Wednesday.

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua paid a moving tribute on Thursday to the two close friends killed in a car crash in Nigeria, labelling them “brothers” and “great men”.

Joshua suffered minor injuries in the December 29 crash, and after being discharged from the hospital, he returned to England before attending the funerals of Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami last Sunday.

“Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers. I didn’t even realise how special they are. I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men.

“100 per cent, it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents. I have a strong mind, and I believe God knows their hearts. May God have mercy on my brothers,” Joshua posted on X.

Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers. I didn’t even realise how special they are. I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. 100% it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher… pic.twitter.com/qIdvq9O4sO

READ ALSO: London Mourns At Funeral For Anthony Joshua’s Associates

Ayodele, the personal trainer of the former two-time unified heavyweight champion, and Ghami, Joshua’s long-time strength and conditioning coach, both died at the scene of the crash on December 29.

Nigerian police charged the driver of the vehicle, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, with “dangerous driving causing death”.

The accident took place on a busy highway linking Lagos and Ibadan in southwest Nigeria when the Lexus SUV in which they were travelling rammed into a stationary truck.

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Shehu Dikko, says the Super Eagles bonus row has been resolved and that the team will now travel to Marrakech for their quarter-final clash with Algeria in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

Nigeria’s fine outing at the 2025 AFCON took a new twist when reports emerged that the players threatened to boycott their last-eight clash with the Desert Foxes, citing non-payment of match bonuses. 

However, Dikko told Channels Television’s The Morning Brief that the issue has been resolved and the players will leave Fes for Marrakech (Morocco) ahead of the match on Saturday. 

“First and foremost, I tell you, the team trained yesterday, definitely. The team will be traveling today, definitely,” the NSC chairman said on Thursday’s edition of the show which runs on weekdays.

According to him, the delay in the payment of the bonuses was due to bureaucracy, saying the funds are already being processed. 

“Let me give you the timelines of how the issues work. First and foremost, I must tell you that Mr. President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, duly approved the special budget for the AFCON as far back as November 14, 2025,” he said. 

“But approving the money is different from getting the money out. It takes time for the money to be processed through Finance, the Office of the Accountant General, and the CBN.”

READ ALSO: [2025 AFCON] Osimhen, Lookman To Test Algeria Goalkeeper Zidane’s Perfect Record

Dikko said the Nigerian team has gotten their daily allowances for the tournament which he said was paid in “cash as agreed”. 

“It’s normal for players to ask when alerts will come. But I don’t think any player made any public statement. It started from speculation,” he stated. 

“The players will start getting alerts maybe today or tomorrow for the first-round matches, and as they progress, payments for subsequent stages will follow.” 

Nigeria, winners of the AFCON in 1980, 1994 and 2013, dispatched the Mambas of Mozambique 4-0 in the last-16 to set up a mouthwatering clash with Algeria. 

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, says the delay in the payment of bonuses to the Super Eagles at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was due to bureaucratic bottlenecks.

Dikko spoke on Thursday after the Nigerian team threatened to boycott their quarter-final match against Algeria in the competition due to non-payment of their bonuses. 

However, the NSC chairman said the money has been released and is being “processed”. 

READ ALSO: [2025 AFCON] Super Eagles To Travel Today For Quarter-Final Clash After Bonus Row — NSC

“The NFF, the Sports Commission, the Presidency, the Minister of Finance, and the CBN are all involved. Fundamentally, the money for this AFCON is approved and being processed through the right channels. It’s a matter of timing,” he said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily. 

“Let me give you the timelines of how the issues work. First and foremost, I must tell you that Mr. President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, duly approved the special budget for the AFCON as far back as November 14, 2025,” he said.

“But approving the money is different from getting the money out. It takes time for the money to be processed through Finance, the Office of the Accountant General, and the CBN.”

Watch his remark about the matter below: