Mediaage NG News – Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Saturday reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after Ademola Lookman scored twice in an impressive display to beat a disjointed indomitable lions of Cameroon 2-0.
In a last 16 tie in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, the Atalanta attacker scored on the 36th minute after Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen forced Oumar Gonzalez into a mistake and teed up Lookman to fire past goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa to open the scoring.
Lookman, a former England U21s forward scored the second goal to seal the win in the 90th minute, after a nice interplay which began with Lookman driving from the left before finding Alex Iwobi who excellently teed club teammate, Calvin Bassey to cross to Lookman, volleying the ball past the Cameroonian keeper.
It sparked wide celebrations among the Nigerian players, including substitutes who ran over to the side of the pitch to jubilate.
The three time African champions, having outplayed the Cameroonians, will now meet Angola, who also got a commanding 3-0 victory over Namibia earlier, in the last eight next Friday.
Cameroon struggled throughout and failed to register a shot on target, despite introducing Vincent Aboubakar, top scorer at the 2021 AFCON edition, late on for his first appearance, having suffered a muscle injury sustained on the eve of the finals.
The Nigerians earlier had a goal ruled out for offside by the excellent VAR, when West Bromwich Albion ‘s defender, Semi Ajayi scored from inside the penalty box.
It was in the same stadium in 1984 that Cameroon defeated Nigeria in the final to clinch their first of five AFCON titles. They also defeated the West African nation in Moroc 88 and the 2000 final in Lagos.
However, Nigeria has had the better of the Cameroonians at the knock out stages, most notably when they defeated Cameroon 3:2 at the quarter final stage in Egypt 2019.