By Fran Ulom
The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Saturday, 27 January 2024, defeated the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the round of 16 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.
Two goals from Ademola Lookman means Nigeria will play Angola in the quarterfinals.
The Super Eagles thought they had taken the lead through defender Semi Ajayi in the 9th minute, only for the VAR to correctly rule it out for offside.
Despite the celebrations being cut short at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, the Super Eagles struck again through Lookman in the 36th minute.
Victor Osimhen had robbed a Cameroonian defender off the ball and Lookman who had made a marauding run into the Cameroonian box pounced on the cutback from the former, giving the Eagles the lead.
Chances upon chances were created by the Super Eagles but the Indomitable Lions kept repelling them but creating little or no chance of their own.
However, Nigeria did score again with Lookman directing Calvin Bassey’s square pass into the net to make it 2-0 in the 90th minute.
The game ended 2-0 in favour of Nigeria.
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Cameroon on the other hand had no shot on target in the entire match. This shows how strong the Super Eagles’ defence has been, conceding only one goal in four games.
Nigeria will play Angola (who beat Namibia 3-0) on the 2nd of February 2024 at 6:00pm (WAT) at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Nigeria, however, lost goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabili to injury and was replaced by Francis Uzoho in the 80th minute.