Former FIFA World Cup Champions France recorded a 2-0 victory against Nigeria yesterday while the German attacks penetrated the Algerian defences leaving them with a 2-1 victory against the African warriors.

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.

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.