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Vladimir Petković Emphasises Mental Strength, Balance to Stop Nigeria Ahead of AFCON Quarter-Final
Algeria head coach Vladimir Petković has outlined the tactical and mental approach his side must adopt to neutralise Nigeria’s potent attack ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final showdown.
Speaking at his pre-match press briefing, the Desert Foxes’ manager stressed that mindset, discipline, and attention to detail will be decisive when his team faces the Super Eagles in Marrakech on Saturday.
Nigeria have been one of the standout sides of the tournament, combining attacking flair with efficiency in front of goal, and Petković acknowledged that overcoming such a threat will require a complete performance from his players.
“The most important thing is the state of mind. It all starts from there, and from that point of view, we are irreproachable,” Petković said.
“We have the reliability and the quality. Tomorrow, we need to be just as good defensively as offensively. That will be paramount.”
The former Switzerland boss underlined the need for tactical balance, warning that focusing solely on defence against Nigeria could prove costly, just as over-committing in attack could leave his side exposed.
Petković also highlighted the importance of fine margins in high-stakes knockout matches, insisting that nothing must be taken for granted against the Super Eagles.
“All the details will matter against Nigeria. Nothing should be left to chance,” he added. “We have the qualities, we believe in ourselves, and we just have to play a big game.”
Nigeria and Algeria, both unbeaten at the tournament, will clash at the Stade de Marrakech with a place in the AFCON semi-finals at stake, in what promises to be one of the competition’s most compelling encounters.
