Bright Osayi hails rest defence as catalyst for Nigeria AFCON turnaround

Nigeria have kept back-to-back clean sheets in the two knockout-phase matches against Mozambique (4-0) and Algeria (2-0), after conceding four goals in their three Group C fixtures. 

Osayi-Samuel says these clean sheets are going to be crucial in Wednesday’s semi-final against hosts Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

"Yeah, it's very important – [Algeria] are a team that score a lot of goals, but they didn't have one shot on target so that's kudos to the team and the manager for the way we're played," said Osayi-Samuel.

"It's something that we had to work on, after the first few games in which we conceded, but I think the last three games, you can see that we're really focussing on the rest defence.

"I think the way we play, the only way teams can score against us is from set-pieces or counter-attacks, so we're very cautious in that and today was perfect."

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Osayi-Samuel knows a game against the hosts will come with added challenges from the 12th man but believes the Super Eagles’ attractive brand of football is what fans will enjoy watching. 

"We focus on Morocco, another difficult game where the hosts will have their fans behind them, but [against Algeria] was the same thing – they had a lot of fans but we played phenomenal," he added.

"We have to keep believing in ourselves, keep seeing the difference and how we're gradually improving as a team, and we're playing very well.

"I think the way we're scoring our goals is phenomenal and I think, if you compare the way we played the last AFCON to now, it's completely different, it's what fans want to see and what Nigerians want to see – the attacking football, and it's been very good."