Semi Final

The semi final between Nigeria and Algeria was a fiercely contested match with no shortage of drama - which for us began hours before kick off. Getting into the stadium alone proved difficult - clearly the prospect of 3 Englishmen and an Egyptian didn't quite fit the security brief, confusing the gate staff even more wearing Finland, Atletico National (Colombia) and Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) shirts between us. 

We were told we couldn't sit with the Egyptian neutral crowd and therefore had to choose our allegiance. After multiple failed entries, we conveniently met a man with a laptop bag full of replica Nigeria shirts as we were entering the gates, and declared ourselves adopted Super Eagles fans for the day.

This iconic shirt has caught the attention of the football world since its release last year, with people even embarking on an i-Phone-release-esque overnight queue at London’s Nike store to claim theirs. So it was a nice surprise to pick up a ‘decent fake’ for 200 Egyptian Pounds (just under £10)... sorry Nike. 

There was a great atmosphere around the fan park and stadium as kick off drew closer, with football-themed games and a big screen keeping us occupied. Inside the ground, the Algerian fans hugely outnumbered us, but sitting right amongst the noisiest Nigerians, you wouldn't have known it.

Adopted Super Eagles for the day… (Danny, Mariwan & Amro)

Trumpets and drums played relentlessly all game, hundreds of colourfully-clad fans standing on their seats and dancing for the full 90 minutes. The match was end to end, and although Algeria dominated the first half (going in at HT deserved 1-0 leaders), Nigeria came out flying in the second. 

A reviewed and converted VAR penalty sent our section of the crowd into a frenzy with 20 minutes left, and the game looked all set for extra time, until a 94th minute Rihad Mahrez free kick won the game for Algeria in heartbreakingly late fashion. Gutted not to have seen Nigeria reach the final, but nonetheless an amazing first experience of Afcon.

Despite the impressive Nigerian band, Mahrez’s last minute winner took Algeria to the final.

Senegal overcame Tunisia in a dramatic finish to the other semi final, setting up the tournament finale between Mane’s ‘Lions of Teranga’ and Mahrez’s ‘Guerriers du Désert’, or Desert Warriors, the following Friday. Who would be crowned Champions of Africa in Cairo?

A heartbreaking 94th minute winner decided the tie.