The stage is set for a fierce battle as the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon gear up to face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the round of 16 at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
Cameroon secured their spot in the knockout stage with a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Gambia in their final group game at the Stade de Bouaké.
In a rollercoaster match, Karl Toko Ekambi’s deft header early in the second half gave Cameroon the lead.
However, the Gambia turned the tables with goals from Ablie Jallow and Ebrima Colley. The Indomitable Lions mounted a comeback, leveling the scoreline with an own goal from James Gomes in the 87th minute.
The turnaround was completed with a stoppage-time glancing header from Cristopher Wooh, securing Cameroon’s place in the round of 16.
Cameroon finished second in Group C with four points and a superior goal difference over Guinea. They will now face Nigeria in a highly anticipated encounter scheduled for January 27 at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.
The Super Eagles qualified for the round of 16 after securing seven points in Group A. Following a draw against Equatorial Guinea in their opening game, Nigeria secured victories against Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau.
The round-of-16 fixture adds another chapter to the historic football rivalry between the two neighboring nations.
Nigeria holds a favorable head-to-head record against Cameroon, with 12 wins and 8 draws in their 25 encounters.
The last AFCON meeting between these football powerhouses was in the second round of the 2019 edition, where Nigeria emerged victorious with a 3-2 win on their way to securing a bronze medal in the competition.
