AFCON 2019 : Three Massive Implications From Nigeria's 2-1 Loss To Algeria

Algeria defeated Nigeria 2-1 to book their place in the AFCON final for the first time in 29 years.

It took a very late effort in the match for the tie to be settled courtesy of a superb finish just outside the box from Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez.

This was the case as Nigeria surrendered to the might of the North Africans who deserved their place in the AFCON final.

However, with the 2-1 defeat for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, we evaluate the three  implications from the semi-final match.

Nigeria’s AFCON Dream Aborted

With the loss to Algeria (2-1) on Sunday, the Super Eagles will face Tunisia in the other match for a third-place finish.

The Super Eagles can no longer win the much coveted AFCON trophy as this would now take place between the semi-final winners; the Desert Foxes and the Teranga Lions .

It will be nice to see how Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez and Senegal’s Sadio Mane will turn up in the game while Nigeria face the Tunisians.

The Super Eagles have missed out on their initial aspiration to win the tournament when it began in Egypt.

Possible Managerial Exit

With Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat in the hands of Riyad Mahrez and his Algeria side, many talking points will be brewing from the match with regards to certain after match deliberations.

As the Nigerian team failed the semi-final test, many arrows may well begin to point at the Nigeria manager for questions and criticisms.

The scenario may generate some effect around the team and Rohr and this may lead to a possible exit for Gernot Rohr as he was widely criticized prior to Nigeria’s match against Cameroon.

This sparked up the team’s revival as Nigeria benefited to beat the defending champions Cameroon and South Africa later in the tournament.

Would Rohr survive the hammer this time following the Eagles defeat or will be it be too shattering for him to deal with?

It remains to be seen as they take on Tunisia in the third place.

Nigeria’s Pedigree Diminished

As far as the nation Nigeria is concerned they are seen as the giants of African football even as they are located geographically at the heart of Africa.

However, with this loss coupled with Nigeria’s inability to exert dominance over Algeria in the semi-final clash, their pedigree may have been diminished at least for now.

They have to wait for the next couple of games to make amends as Algeria has taken the shy away from the Super Eagles, to say the least at the moment.

Obiweluozo Martins