ABIDJAN – Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel has addressed the heated on-field altercation that broke out during Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final victory over Algeria this past weekend.
The incident occurred in the 68th minute when the Birmingham City right-back attempted to shield the ball out of play.
The routine sequence quickly escalated after Algerian attacker Anis Hadj Moussa shoved the defender, sparking a physical confrontation between the two.
Referee IntervenesAs the tension rose, Osayi-Samuel confronted the Feyenoord forward, who responded with a second push.
Referee Issa Sy moved quickly to de-escalate the situation, ultimately brandishing a yellow card for Hadj Moussa.
“I Overreacted”Speaking after the match, Osayi-Samuel alleged that the confrontation began because of a physical strike.”I was agitated because he punched my face. He hit my face, you know, and I overreacted,” Osayi-Samuel admitted.
Despite the provocation, the defender expressed regret over his response, noting that the match situation with Nigeria leading 2-0 at the time called for more composure. “In the moment…
I should not have done it, I should’ve just ignored it. It’s football, you know.”The Super Eagles held their lead to secure a spot in the semi-finals, though the clash serves as a reminder of the high stakes and intensity defining this year’s knockout stages.