Oliseh hails Bruno Onyeamachi for shutting down AFCON's top scorer Brahim Diaz
Former Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh has praised Super Eagles left-back Bruno Onyeamachi for an exceptional defensive performance in the AFCON semifinal against Morocco. Onyeamachi successfully neutralized Morocco's Brahim Diaz, the tournament's leading scorer with five goals. Diaz was on a historic run, seeking to become the first player to score in six consecutive Africa Cup of Nations matches. The Olympiacos defender kept the Real Madrid winger from scoring throughout the match, a feat Oliseh called remarkable. "This is the first time someone has beaten Diaz," Oliseh told SuperSport, highlighting Onyeamachi's effort to match Diaz's energy and effectiveness. The Real Madrid winger was later replaced by Ilias Akhomach in extra time. Despite this standout defensive effort, Nigeria failed to advance to the final. The semifinal ended 0-0 after extra time, with Morocco winning 4-2 in the penalty shootout. Onyeamachi, aged 26, missed his spot-kick, which contributed to Nigeria's defeat. While the defender's individual performance was widely praised, the result leaves the Super Eagles out of the competition.