Nigeria defeated Cameroon 2-0 in the last 16 in Abidjan thanks to two goals from Ademola Lookman, and as a result, advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nine minutes before the half, the Atalanta attacker opened the score when Victor Osimhen caused an error from Oumar Gonzalez, setting up Lookman to shoot past Fabrice Ondoa, the starting custodian instead of Andre Onana.
In the ninetieth minute, Lookman, a former England Under-21s forward, completed a brilliant move to volley in Calvin Bassey’s cutback, completing the victory and setting off wild celebrations among the three-time champions.
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Cameroon did not manage to put a shot on target, even though they introduced Vincent Aboubakar, the tournament’s top scorer, late in the game for his first appearance following a muscle injury acquired on the eve of the championships.
The Super Eagles will play Angola in the round of eight on Friday at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium. Angola impressed in their previous 3-0 victory against Namibia.
Coach Rigobert Song of Cameroon, who was eliminated from the 2022 World Cup at the group round, will be under intense criticism at home after his most recent setback.
Samuel Eto’o, the president of the Cameroon football federation, who was present in the stands, will now have to choose whether to keep or fire his former teammate.
The Indomitable Lions, who have been disjointed for much of the tournament, played in the stadium where they defeated Nigeria in the 1984 final to win the first of their five continental trophies.
Although Cameroon has defeated the West Africans in three Nations Cup finals, the Super Eagles often prevail in their early encounters.
After dominating their opponents, Nigeria prevailed 3-2 in Egypt in 2019 to earn their second victory against Cameroon at this stage of the competition in the previous three editions.
