Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez urged his teammates to show their quality and play a big game against Nigeria on Saturday afternoon in the last eight at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mahrez, 34, scored a sumptuous free-kick in the dying seconds of the semi-final when the sides clashed at the 2019 tournament.
They went on to beat Senegal 1-0 in the final to claim the country's second title at the continent's most prestigious national team football tournament.
But after that high, Algeria suffered humiliating first round exits at successive competitions.
"Of course, you cannot forget scoring at a moment like that," Mahrez beamed as he recalled the lavish sweep of his left foot at the Cairo International Stadium.
"For me and for the team and for our country, it was an incredible moment.
"And I'm so happy to arrive at this stage again and to play against a big team, a strong team like Nigeria.
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"This is where our big players belong and now it's up to them to show their abilities on the biggest stage."
Both Nigeria and Algeria won all three of their games during the pool stages. Nigeria rifled home eight goals while conceding four. And they then hammered Mozambique 4-0 to reach the last eight.
Algeria have only let in one goal in their four matches leading up to Saturday afternoon's game at the Stade de Marrakech.
"I like the football Algeria play," said Nigeria boss Eric Chelle who spent three months at the helm of the Algerian club top flight club MC Oran before taking up the role as Nigeria head coach in January 2025.
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"Algeria have got some interesting players and there's a coaching staff that is very professional and very competent.
"We've a challenge ahead of us," Chelle added. "We have our strengths as well as our weaknesses. If we want to reach the prize we have to beat the best teams."
The winner of the game will play Morocco in Rabat on 14 January after they overwhelmed Cameroon 2-0 at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat on Friday night.
Brahim Diaz notched up his fourth goal of the tournament to give the Cup of Nations hosts the lead after 26 minutes. Ismael Saibari added the second 16 minutes from time to take Morocco into the last four for the first time since they reached the final in 2004.
The other semi-final on 14 January in Tangier will pit Senegal against the winner of Saturday night's game in Agadir between Egypt and the defending champions Cote d'Ivoire.
The Ivorians outclassed Burkina Faso 3-0 to move into the last eight while the Egyptians needed two goals in extra-time to see off Benin.
The final will take place in Rabat on 18 January.
