AFCON 2023: Super Eagles Beat Cameroon to Set up Q’final Clash with Angola

Duro Ikhazuagbe 

Two goals by Ademola Lookman sealed victory for Nigeria’s Super Eagles over Cameroon in the Round of 16 fixture of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire last night. 

With the victory over the five-time AFCON champions, the Super Eagles have  now booked their quarter final date with Angola who triumphed over Namibia with three unreplied goals in an earlier Round of 16 clash yesterday.

Lookman who plays his professional football in Italy with Atalanta was the beneficiary of the good work started by African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen. Lookman latched on Osimhen’s flick from the left flank to put Super Eagles in the lead in the 36th minutes. Cameroonian fans who were looking forward to a repeat of how the Indomitable Lions shocked Nigeria in the final of the 1984 final inside the same Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny looked on in disappointment as Nigerians supporters celebrated.

The Atalanta man returned in the 90th minute to make it two goals for Nigeria and a sure-bet for the quarter final when he Lookman he connected home a cross by Calvin Bassey.

Osimhen, who was substituted with a couple of minutes remaining, was the first player to burst from the technical area as the Nigerian bench empties on to the pitch at the full-time plus added five minutes whistle.

The Super Eagles striker leapt, punched the air and then dropped to his knees, pumping both fists.

At the other end of the scale, a glum looking Samuel Eto’o, who sat in the VIP seats, appeared on the big screen.

Now president of Cameroon’s football federation, the former Barcelona and Chelsea striker has some thinking to do about what next for the Indomitable Lions who have now suffered four straight defeats in five meetings with the Super Eagles.

RESULTS

Angola  3-0 Namibia 

Nigeria  2-0 Cameroon 

TODAY

E’Guinea v  Guinea

Egypt    v  DR Congo