It was a twist of fate for the Super Eagles as they agonizingly crashed out to Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nation’s semifinals on Sunday.
Investigations reveals that fate reversed what transpired between the two countries when they met at the same stage 31 years ago in Rabat, Morocco.
The encounter of both countries is geographically a clash of two giants. Algeria is a giant based on landmass as the largest country in Africa. But demographically, Nigeria is the biggest on account of population.
When they met at the semifinals in 1988, Nigeria profited from a 39th minute own goal by Algeria’s defender, Abdelrazak Belgherbi. Thirty-one years later, almost about the same time, Nigeria’s defender, William Troost-Ekong also turned the ball into his own net!
Back to the 1988 duel, Algeria eventually scored a goal by Rachid Maatar four minutes to regulation time. On Sunday, Riyad Mahrez scored four minutes after regulation time for Algeria.
