Nigeria got all right at the blast of the whistle against the indomitable Lions of Cameron in the round of 16 at the 2023 African Cup of Nations tournament in Ivory Coast.
Two of Africa’s best Nigeria and Cameron battle each other at the round of 16 to progress in to the quarterfinals, the highly competitive nature of the game brought out the best out of the game to give fans something to cheer about.
Two goals from Nigeria’s sensational winger Ademola Lookman was enough to secure the two times Afcon champions a spot in the quarterfinal of Afcon/2023.
In the half hour mark, a defensive blunder from the Cameronian defender pave was for Napoli’s Victor Osimhen to capitalize on to find his teammate Lookman with a pass to get the opener for Nigeria.
The intensity of the game rose to its perfection as Cameron thrive to stage a comeback but a formidable Nigeria defence stood tall, making it difficult for Cameron to open up their backline. Several attempts from the Cameronian failed to materialized.
In the second half of the game, Cameron continue in search of an equalizer, pushing more men upfront with a three back system.
Massive roars from the stands when the captain of the Cameroon Vincent Aboubakar who missed all three games at the group stage due to injury was about to be introduced. A booster for the Cameronian side.
Cameron woes continued as Lookman gets his second in the 75′ minutes from a quick free kick pass from Zaidu in the eighteen yard box for Lookman to calmly tap. The luck of concentration at the Cameron defence cost the team to lose in a 2-0.
Nigeria is through to the quarterfinals along side Angola who earlier thrush inexperience Namibia in a 3-0.
Nigeria will come face-to-face against a formidable Angola side on Friday 2nd February,2024. The winner gets to progress in to the semifinal of Afcon-2023.