African representatives Nigeria and Algeria turned in gallant fighting performances in yesterday’s Round-of-16 matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, giving France and Germany respectively stern tests without quite being able to finish the job off.

Both the Super Eagles and Les Fennecs showed plenty of courage and skill in thwarting their supposedly superior European opponents for longer than most people expected, and were indebted to some heroics from their goalkeepers along the way.

Try as they might, however, they could not prevent the French and Germans – both former world champions – from teeing up a quarter-final meeting at the Maracana on Friday.

Nigeria’s standout performer against Les Bleus was Vincent Enyeama, who pulled off one outstanding stop after another only to flap at a corner and allow Paul Pogba to nod the French ahead 11 minutes from time while a stoppage time own goal by skipper Joseph Yobo left scores at 0-2.

Algeria’s hero between the posts was Rais M’Bohli, though that does not tell the whole story of a game in which Les Fennecs created the clearest chances in the first half, continued to pose a threat throughout and only succumbed after they had taken the Germans all the way to extra time. The match ended 2-1 in favour of the Germans.

After creating history by having two sides in the second round of the FIFA World Cup for the very first time, African football can take heart from the performances of their last two representatives on another memorable day at Brazil 2014.

Nigeria and Algeria had more in common yesterday than just their plucky exits. Both had first-half goals disallowed for offside, with Emmanuel Emenike having an 18^th minute strike chalked off against the French and Islam Slimani suffering the same fate 17 minutes into his side’s game against the Germans.

•Photo shows perplexed Algerian players as Germany celebrate their slim victory in yesterday’s Brazil 2014 World Cup clash.

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