BENGUELA, Angola: Nigeria captured third place at the African Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win over fellow World Cup qualifier Algeria on Saturday.
Striker Victor Obinna scored in the 56th minute, as his team recovered from a 1-0 loss to Ghana in the semifinals.
“This is a good thing we won this game,” Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu said. “It’s always better to leave with a prize.” Ghana will face defending champion Egypt in Sunday’s final in Luanda.
Despite the loss, Algeria coach Rabah Saadane praised his players for their fine run at the tournament, where the North African nation reached the semifinals for the first time since 1990.
“This was a very good competition overall,” Saadane said. “We played six high-level matches, we spotted our mistakes and this was a good preparation for the World Cup.”
Nigeria veteran Nwankwo Kanu was given his first start in the tournament while Algeria was without Faouzi Chaouchi, Rafik Halliche and Nadir Belhadj.
Both teams lacked spark in the early stages before Obinna created Nigeria’s first chance in the 10th minute with a right-foot shot that was cleared by defender Slimane Raho.
Nigeria gradually took a grip on the match and Kanu unleashed a left-foot drive that was easily blocked by goalkeeper Mohamed Zemmamouche in the 31st minute, moments before Obinna tried his luck from long range but missed the target.
Algeria midfielder Mourad Meghni had a good chance in the 44th minute but his half volley from Madjid Bougherra’s cross went over the bar.
Taiwo’s free kick had been poorly cleared by Zemmamouche.
Nigeria was finally rewarded for its efforts when Obinna burst through the Algeria defense from the edge of the box and coolly slipped the ball between the legs of Zemmamouche.
Algeria striker Abdelkader Ghezzal went close to scoring an equalizer in the 77th minute when he latched onto Raho’s deflected cross in the box but his attempt flew wide.
