BREAKING NEWS: Nigeria crushes Cameroon 2-0, to qualify for quarter finals against Angola.

Nigeria defeated Cameroon 2-0 to gain a berth in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals, their 13th victory over the Indomitable Lions across all competitions. Ademola Lookman proved to be the hero, scoring his first-ever AFCON brace—a superb double. Victor Osimhen was key in the victory, setting up the first goal with an assist, and Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka also made significant contributions. Notably, for the first time in AFCON history, Nigeria’s strong defense maintained a clean sheet against Cameroon.

The starting lineup that defeated Cote d’Ivoire was reinstated by head coach Jose Peseiro, including players like Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, William Troost-Ekong, and Zaidu Sanusi. The group played with better unity, scoring goals early. The team displayed improved cohesion, creating early scoring opportunities, including a goal by Semi Ajayi, which was later disallowed for offside after VAR review.

Despite the setback, Nigeria took the lead when Victor Osimhen capitalized on a defensive lapse, stealing the ball from Jean-Charles Castelletto and setting up Lookman for a clinical first-time finish. Nigeria maintained their momentum in the second half, with Lookman narrowly missing a free-kick opportunity to double the lead.

The Super Eagles effectively kept the Indomitable Lions at bay, with Osimhen coming close to scoring and Iwobi firing wide from a sharp angle. In the closing moments, Lookman sealed the victory with a well-executed side-foot finish following a swift interchange of passes involving Lookman, Iwobi, and Calvin Bassey.

With this win, Nigeria advances to the AFCON quarterfinals for the first time since 2019. They are set to face Angola in the next round, following Angola’s 3-0 victory over Namibia in their round-of-16 clash.