Nigeria have eliminated Cameroon with a 2-0 victory in the Africa Cup of Nations, advancing to the quarter-finals where they will face Angola
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AFCON result: Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon
Key events
- 9′: Ajayi appeared to have given Nigeria a 1-0 lead but VAR rules the goal out for offside.
- 36′: Lookman opens the scoring for Nigeria, capitalising after Osimhen steals the ball from a defender.
- 80′: Nigeria goalkeeper Nwabali is forced off after suffering an injury in a collision with N’Koudou.
- 90′: Lookman doubles Nigeria’s lead with his second goal.
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Peseiro: ‘Our football sometimes is incredible’
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More from manager Jose Peseiro’s remarks to the media following Nigeria’s win: “Our football sometimes is incredible. We play well. Today we created less but we scored two goals.”
Asked whether Nigeria’s level might drop against a smaller side like Angola after appearing to play better against bigger nations, he responded: “See, I want to just win every game. I don’t know what Nigerians think about names in football but if we are to defeat Angola, we must play like today.”
Update on Nwabali’s injury
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Speaking after Nigeria’s win, manager Jose Peseiro issued an update on the status of Stanley Nwabali after the goalkeeper suffered an injury late in the second half: “We have to wait 24 or 48 hours to know what is wrong with him but I hope he will available for the next game.”
Nigeria’s opponents Angola will be without their starting goalkeeper in the quarter-final after Neblu was shown a straight red card against Namibia earlier today for handling the ball outside of the penalty area.
Ekambi: We were in control until mistake
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Karl Toko Ekambi also pointed to mistakes when discussing Cameroon’s loss: “(Nigeria) were a solid team. We made a mistake that cost us dearly because I think we were well into the game. We had the ball, we did some good things and we managed to get out well. We weren’t dangerous, but we were in control. We made a mistake that cost us that first goal and in a knockout match, at 1-0, we know it’s complicated.
“We’re disappointed, we’ll move on.”
Aboubakar: ‘Little mistakes cost us the match’
Vincent Aboubakar also spoke to the media after Cameroon’s loss: “The feeling can only be negative. Today we found an even tougher opponent. As you know, Nigeria are our thorn in our side. Cameroon dominated possession, but little mistakes cost us the match. That’s soccer and there’s nothing we can do about it. We’ll just have to pick ourselves up and prepare for the next matches.
“We can have regrets. Now we’ll be spectators at the AFCON.”
Song to consider position as Cameroon manager
Speaking to the press after Cameroon’s elimination, Rigobert Song also said that he’ll take time to consider whether he should remain as the team’s manager: “I’m a fighter. I like difficult things. I’ve said I’m under contract. I’ll have time to rest and take stock before making any decisions.”
Song: ‘We’ve still got a lot to learn’
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Cameroon manager Rigobert Song spoke to the media after his country’s elimination from the tournament: “We took on a young team into competition today. Some of the players are new to the game. We were the ones who gave our opponents the chance to cause us problems. Today, as I’ve said in the past, we’re rebuilding. We’re going to grow, that’s soccer. The AFCON is a competition that’s played out on all levels: technical, tactical, but also mental. With our youth today, we’ve shown that we’ve still got a lot to learn.”
Ademola Lookman’s career day
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Named by CAF as Man of the Match, the Atalanta forward scored both of Nigeria’s goals today, doubling his career international goals total in one fell swoop.
These were easily the most significant goals he has scored for his country, as the previous two came against minnows São Tomé and Príncipe, who currently ranked 191st out of 210 countries by FIFA.
Nigeria’s stingy defence
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Nigeria have still only conceded one goal in this tournament, tied with Senegal, Mali and Morocco for the fewest in the competition. Nigeria are the only of those four nations that have played their fourth match so far, however.
Cameroon’s toothless attack
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This match marks the first time that Cameroon failed to record a single shot on target at an Africa Cup of Nations game since Opta began to collect that data in 2010.
Match stats
Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon
- Shots: 8 – 6
- Shots on goal: 4 – 0
- Saves: 0 – 2
- Possession: 42% – 58%
- Passing accuracy: 72% – 79%
- Corners: 3 – 1
- Offsides: 4 – 0
- Fouls: 21 – 19
- Yellow cards: 2 – 2
Nigeria’s record against Angola
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Next Friday’s quarter-final between Nigeria and Angola will be their first meeting at a major tournament.
The two nations have met eight times during qualifying for the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations however, with the results split evenly with two wins apiece alongside four draws.
Nigeria take control of this rivalry
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Cameroon may have beaten Nigeria in three previous finals at this tournament, but Nigeria have taken over their head-to-head rivalry in recent years.
The Super Eagles are now unbeaten in their past five AFCON matches against the Indomitable Lions, winning four and drawing one.
Disappointment for Cameroon
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After a run to the semi-finals at the previous Africa Cup of Nations in 2021, Cameroon are unable to repeat that success, falling at this stage for the second time in their last three appearances at AFCON.
Andre Onana made zero impact for Cameroon
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After all of that fuss, Andre Onana played once at this tournament and did not make a single save.
Updated AFCON knockout bracket
Nigeria will take on Angola in the quarter-finals on Friday.
FT: Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon
That’s it! Nigeria have advanced to the quarter-finals, sending Cameroon home!
Osimhen comes off
90+9′ Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon
Nigeria make a late double change, bringing off Osimhen who set up their first goal and was generally brilliant today.
Cameroon nearly gift Nigeria third goal
90+8′ Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon
Cameroon win a late corner but Nigeria manage to scramble the ball away to safety.
Nigeria quickly mount a counter-attack going the other way, forcing a Cameroon defender to nearly turn the ball into his own net.
Last throw of dice for Cameroon
90+5′ Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon
Aina is booked for catching N’Koudou with a painful foul on the foot as both players lunged for the ball.
Cameroon make their third change, bringing on Moumbagna for Ekambi.
