Algeria head coach Vladimir Petković has acknowledged the Super Eagles’ dominance following Nigeria’s 2–0 victory in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final clash on Saturday.
Speaking during his post-match press conference, Petković admitted that his side struggled to settle into the contest from the opening minutes, allowing Nigeria to control proceedings throughout the game.
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“Nigeria was better than us and prevented us from playing the way we wanted,” the Algerian coach said, conceding that the Super Eagles fully deserved their victory.
Petković noted that Algeria lacked several key elements required to compete at that level, highlighting Nigeria’s edge in both individual quality and physical strength.
“They showed superior individual quality and physical power,” he said.
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He added that while Algeria attempted to respond in the second half, they were unable to raise their attacking output to the required standard.
“We tried to improve, but we couldn’t reach the level we wanted going forward,” he explained.
Petković also spoke of the disappointment within his squad following their exit from the tournament but praised their overall campaign.
“The players are devastated, but they performed well throughout the tournament,” he said.
Despite the setback, the former Switzerland coach urged his team to remain positive and look to the future.
“This competition is over, and we must now look ahead with our heads held high,” Petković concluded.
