Omotayo Fashola
Nigerian defender Bright Osayi-Samuel has opened up about his heated exchange with Algerian winger Anis Hadj Moussa during the thrilling AFCON quarter-final showdown.
The tense encounter erupted in the 68th minute when Osayi-Samuel shielded the ball from Hadj Moussa, provoking an aggressive response.
The Fenerbahçe fullback revealed how the altercation escalated after the Algerian international struck him in the face.
“Honestly, I lost my cool when he punched me. That’s not how I normally react,” Osayi-Samuel confessed during post-match analysis.
“With our 2-0 lead, I should’ve kept my composure, but emotions took over. These things happen in the heat of competition.”
The clash resulted in referee Issa Sy cautioning Hadj Moussa, while Osayi-Samuel demonstrated restraint despite the provocation, helping Nigeria secure their semifinal berth.
