CAN 2024: Nigeria puts an end to Cameroon's hopes and secures its place in the quarter-finals
Nigeria won 2-0 this Saturday, January 27 at the Félix Houphoüet-Boigny stadium in Abidjan against Cameroon who have never managed to swing a match, facing the Imperial Super Eagles from start to finish, never really worried.
Nigerian striker Ademola Lookman celebrates his team's first goal with Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen during the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Round of 16 football match between Nigeria and Cameroon at Félix Stadium Houphouët-Boigny from Abidjan on January 27, 2024. AFP - FRANCK FIFE
By: Pierre Fesnien Follow
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From our special correspondent at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny
,
Pierre Fesnien
It is a great classic of the
African Cup of Nations
as
Cameroon
and
Nigeria
have met many times in the final phase of the competition. Three finals have already pitted the two teams against each other, all won by Cameroon. But this time, this match at the Félix Houphoüet-Boigny stadium had another challenge for the Indomitable Lions and the Super Eagles who were competing for a place in the quarter-finals.
It was Nigeria who thought they had done the hardest by opening the score in the 8th minute, with a goal from Moses Simon who took a ball badly repelled by Ondoa's gloves. But after consulting the Var, the referee finally decided to cancel the goal for an offside position.
Read alsoCAN 2024: The calendar and all the results
Victor Osimhen untenable
In a balanced match, it was Cameroon who then took the initiative in the game with slightly better possession of the ball than their opponent. But it was the Nigerians who proved to be the most dangerous in counterattacking thanks to the speed of their attackers, including Victor Osimhen, who, although he did not, once again, score, was a real poison for the defense of the Lions, obliged to watch him like milk on the fire.
The activity of the Napoli scorer ended up paying off in the 35th minute. While Christopher Wooh held the leather, the central defender lost his means against the pressing of the African Ballon d'Or, who stole the ball to pass it to Ademola Lookman in the area. The Nigerian winger then adjusted Ondoa who, although in the path of the ball after a great effort, let it slip into the back of his goal.
Read alsoCAN 2024: relive Nigeria’s domination of Cameroon
Aboubakar helpless in the face of Lookman's double
Combative after the locker room, the Indomitable Lions did what they could to try to come back to the score, but without ever managing to be dangerous and incisive enough to worry a well-organized Nigerian defense. At the same time, the Super Eagles attackers did not miss an opportunity to take advantage of the defensive errors of the Cameroonian hinge.
🏆🌍 #beINCAN2023 #NGACMR
🇳🇬🇨🇲 Nigeria is qualified for the quarter-finals! pic.twitter.com/2zuFOpA8rI
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 27, 2024
The entry of Vincent Aboubakar in the 75th minute for his first minutes of play in this CAN as he returns from injury will not change anything in the scenario. The star striker of the Indomitable Lions did not find the fault any more than his teammates. Too imprecise and incapable of swinging the match against the Super Eagles sure of their strength. Quite logically, they even doubled the bet by Lookman, for his second achievement of the evening, following a cross from the right by Calvin Bassey.
After a very complicated group stage, Cameroon was not completely healed and fell like in 2019 in Egypt in the round of 16 against the realism of Super Eagles, led by a Victor Osimhen of the big nights.
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