THE Super Eagles of Nigeria eased past their bitter rivals Cameroon tonight in Abidjan to advance to the quarter-finals of the AFCON 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where they will battle Angola.
Ademola Lookman scored both goals for the Super Eagles as they recorded their third straight AFCON victory against the Indomitable Lions, who had no shot on target tonight.
Nigeria had a goal chalked off in the 11th minute after VAR review showed Semi Ajayi had strayed offside before firing past goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa after Cameroon failed to clear a corner kick.
The goal eventually came in the 36th minute and it was made in Italy. Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who was a menace to Cameroon defenders all game, took the ball off a centre-back and set up Atalanta forward Lookman, whose shot squirmed under Ondoa into the net.
The Super Eagles defended superbly after taking the lead, and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili was hardly troubled.
However, the Chippa United goalkeeper had to be stretchered off and replaced with Francis Uzoho in the 80th minute after an unfortunate collision.
Nwabili’s departure did not adversely affect the Super Eagles though as they continued to create chances and keep Cameroon at bay.
Before eventually touching home Calvin Bassey’s brilliant ball in the 90th minute to seal the game, Lookman created two big chances that were not converted by Ola Aina in the 85th minute and Alex Iwobi in the 88th minute.
The Super Eagles will next face Angola, who thrashed Namibia 3-0 in the first round of 16 clash earlier in the day with a brace from Gelson Dala, who has now scored four goals at AFCON 2023.
The quarter-final clash is billed for the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abijdan on Friday.
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