National Teams
Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon: Lookman brace sends Super Eagles to Afcon 2023 quarterfinal
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria secured a place in the quarter-final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a 2-0 win over Cameroon at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, on Saturday.
Ademola Lookman’s brace kept the Super Eagles’ “Let’s do it again” campaign alive while Jose Peseiro’s men ended the Indomitable Lions quest to win their sixth African title.
William Troost Ekong returned to the starting lineup after missing the previous 1-0 victory against Guinea Bissau.
Stanley Nwabali, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi, Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Ola Aina, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, and Victor Osimhen started for the three-time African champions.
Ajayi thought he had given the Super Eagles the lead in the ninth minute but his goal was ruled out for offside after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check.
Lookman broke the deadlock in the 36th minute when he received a cheeky pass from Osimhen inside the box and his first-time shot was precise and sailed into the right side of the goal.
Nigeria had more chances from Lookman and Aina before doubling the lead in the 90th minute.
Bassey located Lookman with a clever pass while the latter whipped a tremendous shot into the right side of the goal.
The Super Eagles, thereby progressed to the quarter-final.
They will face Angola in the quarter-final after the Southern African side beat COSAFA rivals, Namibia 3-0.
