Bright Osayi-Samuel revealed that a punch to the face sparked his heated altercation with Algeria’s Anis Moussa, though the defender admitted he should have ignored the provocation during Nigeria’s 2-0 win.
Nigeria defender Bright Osayi-Samuel has clarified the mid-game altercation with Algeria’s Anis Hadj Moussa during the Super Eagles’ 2-0 AFCON quarterfinal victory.
The incident occurred in the 68th minute when the Birmingham City right-back attempted to shield the ball out of play.
Frustrated, the Feyenoord winger shoved Osayi-Samuel, leading to a confrontation that resulted in a yellow card for Moussa after he appeared to strike the defender’s throat.
Reflecting on the clash after the match, Osayi-Samuel admitted he lost his composure following the physical provocation.
“I was agitated because he punched my face. He hit my face, you know, and I overreacted,” the former QPR man stated.
Despite the intensity of the moment, he acknowledged that his response was unnecessary given Nigeria’s comfortable lead, noting, “We were winning 2-0, so really and truly I shouldn’t have done it.”
The Super Eagles are now shifting their focus to a high-stakes semifinal against host nation Morocco.
Osayi-Samuel expressed confidence in the team’s momentum, highlighting their defensive solidity after keeping Algeria from registering a shot on target.
“We just keep believing in ourselves and keep believing what the manager wants us to do, and I think we’ll beat Morocco too,” he concluded. The semifinal is scheduled for Wednesday at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah.