The Super Eagles of Nigeria have progresses to the quarterfinals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a 2-0 victory over the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Saturday.
It’s a very much Nigeria’s night – a well deserved victory that avenges their defeat to Cameroon in the very stadium in the 1984 AFCON final.
Ademola Lookman’s brace helped Nigeria progress to the next round. Nigeria thought they’d made the perfect start when Semi Ajayi poked into the net from close range after nine minutes. However, a lengthy VAR review concluded that the defender strayed into an offside position and Nigeria were denied.
But the Indomitable Lions were dealt a deadly bowl after Oumar Gonzalez’s mis-timed touch allowed Victor Osimhen to seize on the loose ball, race forward and feed through Ademola Lookman, whose shot was fumbled into the net by Fabrice Ondoa.
Nigeria started the second half brightly, and continued to carve out the major chances. Lookman finally got his second goal of the night in injury time as he raced onto Calvin Bassey’s low cross and powerfully volleyed into the net.
Despite introducing Vincent Aboubakar, top scorer at the 2021 tournament, late on for his first appearance after a muscle injury sustained before the start of the tournament, Cameroon failed to register a single shot on target.
The Super Eagles will be back at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium on Friday (17:00 GMT) to face Angola, who thrashed Namibia 3-0 earlier this evening, in the quarterfinal.
Nigeria have played in (41) and won (23) more matches in the knockout stages of the this competition than any other nation.
