The Super Eagles of Nigeria secured their spot in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a dominant 2-0 victory over Cameroon at the Stade Félix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Saturday.
In a thrilling encounter, Ademola Lookman emerged as the hero for Nigeria, netting a brace to secure the crucial win against the Indomitable Lions.
Nigeria’s path to the quarter-finals was solidified with a display of skill and determination, marking a significant improvement from their earlier performances in the tournament.
The Super Eagles, under the guidance of head coach Jose Peseiro, showcased their tactical prowess with a 3-4-3 formation, led by an attacking trio of Moses Simon, Lookman, and Victor Osimhen.
Despite an early disallowed goal, Nigeria persisted, and Lookman opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a well-placed shot past the Cameroonian goalkeeper, Fabrice Ondoa.
Lookman continued to impress in the second half, securing his brace with another clinical finish late in the game, sealing Nigeria’s victory and a berth in the quarter-finals.
However, the triumph was marred by an injury to goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who was stretchered off the field after a collision with a Cameroon player. Francis Uzoho replaced Nwabali between the posts for the remainder of the match.
With their quarter-final berth confirmed, Nigeria will face Angola in the next phase of the competition on February 2, aiming to continue their quest for AFCON glory.
Meanwhile, in the day’s other second-round fixture, Angola emerged victorious with a 3-0 win over Namibia, setting the stage for an exciting showdown against the Super Eagles in the quarter-finals.
