Nigeria soared into the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a dominant 2-0 victory over a lacklustre Cameroon side in Abidjan.
Ademola Lookman bagged a brace for the Super Eagles, with his first goal coming in the 35th minute after Victor Osimhen forced Oumar Gonzalez into a mistake, allowing Lookman to fire past goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa.
Lookman sealed the win in the 90th minute with a sublime volley from Calvin Bassey’s cutback, prompting wild celebrations among the Nigerian contingent. Cameroon, who were without influential striker Vincent Aboubakar due to a muscle injury, failed to muster a single shot on target throughout the encounter.
The victory sets up a mouthwatering clash between Nigeria and Angola in the quarter-finals on Friday, with both teams looking to book their place in the semi-finals. Cameroon coach Rigobert Song, meanwhile, faces mounting pressure following his team’s underwhelming display, having already faced criticism for their early exit from the 2022 World Cup.
Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation, watched on from the stands and must now decide whether to retain Song as head coach. The defeat marks another setback for Cameroon, who have struggled to find their footing in recent years despite boasting some of the continent’s most talented players.