Nigeria defender, Semi Ajayi has taken positives from the Super Eagles’ 2–0 victory over Algeria in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, played at the Grande Stade de Marrakech on Saturday.
Ajayi once again proved his importance at the heart of Nigeria’s defence, delivering key interceptions and crucial blocks to help the Super Eagles secure another clean sheet in the tournament.
Reflecting on the performance, the defensive marshal expressed confidence in the team’s steady improvement as attention turns to the semi-final clash against hosts Morocco.
“We’re not taking the game lightly. I feel like we’ve improved gradually with every small game,” Ajayi said. “We’ll be looking to take a massive step forward in the next game.”
The West Bromwich Albion defender highlighted defensive solidity as a major source of pride for the team, noting that back-to-back clean sheets have boosted belief within the squad.
“Yeah, the defence, that’s what we pride ourselves on. It’s not easy, so we’re glad to get two in a row now. There are still things we can be better on and be more dominant.”
Ajayi added that victories like the one against Algeria send a strong message to opponents and reinforce the Super Eagles’ confidence as they approach the business end of the tournament.
“It brings confidence. We know we’re okay for the world, but a win like this is a real statement. It brings us to the point where we have belief in ourselves,” he concluded.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
