Nigeria’s Osimhen and Lookman face Algeria’s Luca Zidane in AFCON quarter-finals, as the Desert Foxes goalkeeper aims to keep his clean sheet streak

Nigeria’s sharpshooters Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman will test the unbeaten record of Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Saturday.

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Zidane, 27, the only first-choice goalkeeper among the eight quarter-finalists to have kept a clean sheet in all tournament matches so far, faces a potent Nigerian frontline.

Osimhen and Lookman have each scored three goals, tormenting defences throughout the competition.

The French-born Zidane, son of legendary Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, kept clean sheets against Sudan and Burkina Faso in the group stage before being rested against Equatorial Guinea.

Recalled for the last-16 clash with the Democratic Republic of Congo, he remained unbeaten during a dramatic extra-time victory.

“It is special when your family come to watch,” Zidane said, with his father, mother, and younger brother attending his matches.

He began his career with Real Madrid B in 2016 and now plays for Granada in Spain’s second tier.

Eligible to represent France, Spain, or Algeria, Zidane chose the Desert Foxes, debuting in a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Uganda last November.

Despite his famous surname, he insists on building his career on his own terms.

Nigeria and Algeria have a rich history in AFCON. The Desert Foxes have been a bogey team for the Super Eagles, winning four of nine meetings, including a 5-1 victory en route to the 1990 title.

Algeria has rebounded from successive group-stage exits under coach Vladimir Petkovic.

Nigeria, the tournament’s leading scorers with 12 goals, feature Osimhen, Lookman, and Akor Adams in a potent frontline. Coach Eric Chelle will, however, be concerned that the three-time champions have conceded four goals—the most among the remaining teams.

Other quarter-final fixtures include Mali versus Senegal, with Mali seeking a first AFCON title and Senegal welcoming back key players like Kalidou Koulibaly and Sadio Mane.

Cameroon face Morocco, where home advantage and past records make the Atlas Lions favourites, and Egypt meet Ivory Coast, with Mohamed Salah leading the Pharaohs after a dramatic last-16 win over Benin.

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Saturday’s clash between Nigeria and Algeria promises high drama as sharpshooters Osimhen and Lookman aim to breach Zidane’s impressive clean-sheet streak.