Nigeria defeated Cameroon in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 Round of 16 in an exciting match between the continent’s biggest football teams at Abidjan’s Felix Houphout-Boigny Stadium. Ademola Lookman stole the spotlight with a brilliant performance, securing Nigeria’s place in the quarterfinals with a 2-0 win.
The game started off with an outbreak of activity from Cameroon as Zambo Anguissa showed off his skills early on, finding Karl Toko Ekambi. The initial attempt, though, was thwarted by the persistent William Ekong of the Nigerian defense. The Super Eagles believed they had taken the lead when Lookman’s corner in the ninth minute found Ajayi, who slotted the ball into the net, but VAR stepped in and denied the goal for offside.
Nigeria managed to break the deadlock in the 36th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Cameroon. Victor Osimhen seized the opportunity and set up Lookman, who calmly finished past Cameroonian goalkeeper André Onana. The goal marked the turning point in the match as Nigeria’s intensity continued to trouble the Cameroon defense.
As the game approached full-time, Lookman once again showcased his brilliance. The forward latched onto his own through ball, leaving the Cameroonian defense in disarray before confidently slotting the ball past Onana. The 2-0 lead sealed Nigeria’s victory and propelled them into the quarterfinals, where they are set to face Angola.
Cameroon, on the other hand, exits the tournament at the Round of 16 stage. Rigobert Song, the coach of the Cameroonian team, acknowledged the challenges faced by his young squad. “We had the youngest team; there are players who are discovering,” Song remarked. “We gave the opponent the opportunity to put us in difficulty; it’s part of the game. As I’ve said before, we are in reconstruction. It’s by making these mistakes that we will grow.”
Nigeria’s coach, José Peseiro, shifted the focus to the upcoming quarter-final clash against Angola. “We will now focus on our next match against Angola, which is having an excellent tournament. We must take this opponent seriously,” Peseiro commented. “All the teams at this stage are capable of winning the tournament.”
With this convincing victory over Cameroon, Nigeria not only secured their place in the quarterfinals but also showcased the quality and experience necessary to contend for their long-awaited fourth continental title. As the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations continues to unfold in Côte d’Ivoire, football fans eagerly anticipate more exhilarating moments in the quest for continental glory.
