2025 AFCON: OSIMHEN AND LOOKMAN AIM TO BREAK ALGERIA GOALKEEPER ZIDANE’S PERFECT RECORD
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By: Balogun Ibrahim
Former African Player of the Year winners Osimhen and Lookman have been in fine form during the tournament, each netting three goals and troubling opposing defenses.
Nigeria’s deadly forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are set to challenge Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of French football legend Zinedine Zidane whose perfect record will be on the line in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals in Morocco.
Zidane is the only first-choice goalkeeper among the eight quarter-finalists to have kept a clean sheet in all his tournament appearances so far, but he faces a tough challenge in Marrakesh on Saturday.
Former African Player of the Year winners Osimhen and Lookman have been in sensational form, each scoring three goals and putting opposing defenses under constant pressure.
The 27-year-old Zidane kept clean sheets in group games against Sudan and Burkina Faso before being rested for the match against Equatorial Guinea.
He was brought back for the Round of 16 clash against the Democratic Republic of Congo and remained unbeaten as Nigeria secured a dramatic extra-time victory.
Luca Zidane has enjoyed strong family support, with former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, his Spanish wife, and another son in attendance at each of his matches for the Desert Foxes.
“It’s special when your family comes to watch,” said the 27-year-old goalkeeper, who began his career with Real Madrid B in 2016 and currently plays for Spanish second-division side Granada.
Born in France, Zidane has represented his country of birth at five youth levels. Under FIFA eligibility rules, he could also choose to play for Spain or Algeria, the country of his grandparents.
Zidane opted to represent Algeria, making his debut in a 2026 World Cup qualifying win over Uganda last November. When first-choice goalkeeper Alexis Guendoez was sidelined by injury, he was promoted to take the starting role at AFCON.
“I am proud to represent Algeria and play in the Africa Cup of Nations. It is a great experience,” he told reporters.
He also stressed that his famous family name does not add pressure.
“I try to be myself and build my career on my own terms, step by step,” he said.
MALI VS SENEGAL
Mali are the only quarter-finalists who have never won the AFCON, reaching the last eight without a single group-stage win. After drawing all three group matches, they edged past Tunisia in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet hailed his players as “national heroes,” highlighting their resilience in playing 94 minutes with 10 men following Woyo Coulibaly’s red card.
Senegal return with centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly back from a one-match ban. He joins goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, midfielder Idrissa Gueye, and forward Sadio Mane as the team’s experienced core. Young talent Ibrahim Mbaye is an exciting addition; the 17-year-old scored off the bench against Sudan, becoming the second youngest player to net in an AFCON match.
CAMEROON VS MOROCCO
Older Moroccan fans remember Cameroon bitterly, recalling their 1988 semi-final win in Morocco en route to claiming one of five AFCON titles. Cameroon have never lost to Morocco at the tournament and were the last team to beat them on home soil in a 2009 World Cup qualifier.
Despite these statistics, the Indomitable Lions enter as underdogs against tournament favourites Morocco.
Full-back Achraf Hakimi has recovered from an ankle injury to lead the Atlas Lions, while forward Brahim Diaz has scored in all four of Morocco’s matches.
ALGERIA VS NIGERIA
Algeria have historically been a thorn in Nigeria’s side, winning four and drawing two of nine AFCON encounters, including a 5-1 rout on their way to lifting the 1990 tournament at home.
Under Bosnian coach Vladimir Petkovic, the Desert Foxes have moved past consecutive group-stage exits, with substitute Adil Boulbina firing a spectacular strike to eliminate DR Congo.
Nigeria, the tournament’s top scorers with 12 goals, rely on a potent frontline of Osimhen, Lookman, and Akor Adams. However, coach Eric Chelle may be concerned that the Super Eagles have conceded four goals the most among the remaining title contenders.
EGYPT VS IVORY COAST
Ivory Coast became the first defending champions to reach the quarter-finals since 2010, but they have a poor AFCON record against Egypt, losing seven of 11 encounters and winning only once.
Their impressive 3-0 win over Burkina Faso, highlighted by Manchester United winger Amad Diallo, gives them hope for further progress.
Egypt, meanwhile, needed 124 minutes to overcome Benin in the last 16, with talisman Mohamed Salah securing victory. Having won every English domestic trophy, the Champions League, and the Club World Cup with Liverpool, Salah aims to go one step further in Africa after finishing runner-up twice in the AFCON.
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