AFCON 2023: As They Bumped Cameroon In 2019, Super Eagles Vow To ‘Do It Again’

The Tremendous Eagles have vowed to recreate their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Spherical of 16 defeat of Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in Alexandria, when each groups conflict in Abidjan on Saturday on the similar stage within the ongoing thirty fourth version of the competitors.

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That day, on the Alexandria Stadium in Egypt, the Eagles got here from 1-2 all the way down to choice the Cup holders 3-2 and attain the quarter-finals. Odion Ighalo scored two of the targets, with Alex Iwobi, who’s right here in Abidjan and is predicted to play a figuring out function on Saturday, netting the winner. Captain Ahmed Musa, defenders William Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Ola Aina and Chidozie Awaziem, and ahead Moses Simon, who’re additionally in Abidjan, had been concerned in that encounter in North Africa.

“That sport was a tricky duel and introduced out one of the best in us, particularly once we went 1-2 down regardless of scoring first. Within the dressing room, we instructed ourselves that we couldn’t permit that to occur. We performed for each other and we had been pleased to win on the finish.

“After all, we all know the match on Saturday can be even more durable. The Cameroonians can be decided to not lose once more, however we’ll give our absolute best and go for a win. We are able to do it once more. Our aspiration is to win the trophy and nothing has modified that,” Musa mentioned on Friday.

Nigerian legends Olusegun Odegbami, Jay Jay Okocha, Augustine Eguavoen, Daniel Amokachi and Garba Lawal are amongst dozens of Nigerian VIPs who travelled from Nigeria to Abidjan to assist the workforce, and who will be part of 1000’s of Cote d’Ivoire-based Nigerians to cheer the Eagles on Saturday.

NFF Technical Director Eguavoen, who was on-field captain for the squad that gained in Tunisia in 1994, mentioned: “Cameroon will all the time include willpower and grit. We’ve to be much more ready for them and deploy the larger aptitude and adaptability that we now have.”

Odegbami performed within the 1976 and 1978 tournaments in addition to being a serious drive within the Cup-winning 1980 squad. Okocha scored seven targets within the Africa Cup of Nations and performed in 5 tournaments (1994, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006), whereas Amokachi was additionally within the 1994 Cup-winning squad. Lawal performed within the 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006 finals.

Midfielder Alhassan Yusuf, injured within the physically-demanding contest with Equatorial Guinea on Day 2 of the competitors, is again to coaching, and may very well be thrown into the fray to offer metal alongside Frank Onyeka, whereas Alex Iwobi lubricates issues in the midst of the park.

Coach José Peseiro could go for Ola Aina, Chidozie Awaziem, William Ekong, Calvin Bassey and Zaidu Sanusi on the rear, and there’s the potential of Kelechi Iheanacho enjoying some half with Victor Osimhen on the fore.

Thenff.com right here concludes the cursory take a look at the SEVEN earlier clashes between Nigeria and Cameroon on the AFCON:

5) 2000 AFCON FINAL MATCH: Nationwide Stadium, Surulere, Lagos

Coach Johannes Bonfrere opted to begin with out his two sensations, Julius Aghahowa and Tijani Babangida. The latter had netted the 2 targets in opposition to South Africa within the semi-finals, whereas Aghahowa was the hero of an unexpectedly-tough quarter-final duel with Senegal. As a substitute, Raphael Ndukwe began alongside Finidi George and Nwankwo Kanu.

In entrance of the Eagles’ 60,000 followers, the Lions roared to a 2-0 lead inside the half-hour, after Samuel Eto’o discovered himself in entrance of Ike Shorounmu from a free-kick on the proper and Patrick Mboma additionally discovered himself alone with the goalkeeper and easily despatched the ball by means of his legs. Cameroon may have been 3-0 up minutes later when Furo Iyenemi headed in opposition to the bar whereas attempting to clear, and Shorounmu additionally left his line to clear desperately.

The Eagles stemmed the tide and got here into their very own, with Ndukwe, enjoying his first match of the competitors, threading the ball into the online to cut back the deficit earlier than the break. Early within the second half, Okocha launched a left-footed rocket that Alioum Boukar had no reply to, and the sport flowed from end-to-end with Geremi Njitap, Lauren Etame Mayer, Salomon Olembe, Marc-Vivien Foe, Pierre Wome and Rigobert Track all concerned in opposition to Okocha, Kanu, George, Taribo West, Mutiu Adepoju and substitutes Aghahowa, Babangida and Victor Ikpeba. It resulted in a penalty shootout, with Kanu and Ikpeba failing to attain whereas Foe was the one one who did not convert for the Lions. A 3rd triumph for the Indomitable Lions.

6) 2004 AFCON Q-FINAL MATCH: Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet, Monastir

It was a vibrant, sunny day within the Tunisian metropolis of Monastir. Nigeria’s marketing campaign obtained off on the incorrect footing – a 0-1 loss to Morocco of their first match adopted, two days later, by Coach Christian Chukwu expelling three key members of the workforce from their Riyat Palace Resort for indiscretion. Nevertheless, the Eagles pumped South Africa 4-0 after which defeated Benin Republic in Sfax to achieve the knockout stage.

The Lions had been ‘double defending champions’ having gained in Ghana-Nigeria 2000 and in Mali 2002. Their jerseys hugged them tightly and bodily intimidated opponents, and the CAF President was a Cameroonian!

Hayatou led a big delegation to the VIP stand, and the Cameroonian followers unfurled a mammoth banner within the stands: EAGLES FOR DINNER. Swiftly, they made their intentions identified, Samuel Eto’o slotting previous Vincent Enyeama after Isaac Okoronkwo missed his clearance.

Can something go incorrect? It did, as Nigeria gained a free-kick simply earlier than the break and Idris Carlos Kameni may solely watch Jay Jay Okocha’s effort nestle firmly within the internet. Each groups fought fiercely in a supercharged second interval, and because the Lions attacked, the ball got here to Nwankwo Kanu whose visionary move was neatly transformed by John Utaka.

The Cup holders had been booted out!

7) 2019 AFCON ROUND OF 16 MATCH: Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria

The Tremendous Eagles had been low in spirit after a shock 0-2 defeat by minnows Madagascar, and had been within the Spherical of 16 as a result of they’d picked most factors off Burundi and Guinea. Africa Cup of Nations’ heroes Samuel Eto’o and Nwankwo Kanu had been within the stands to assist their totally different groups. As soon as Botswanan referee Joshua Bondo obtained the match underway, lethargy disappeared.

Odion Ighalo, who would emerge event prime scorer, netted for the Tremendous Eagles halfway into the primary half after a cut-back within the field by Ahmed Musa. Cameroon replied 4 minutes to the break by means of Stephen Bahoken, who obtained the higher of Kenneth Omeruo, and there was nonetheless time for Clinton N’jie to offer them the lead as he slalomed by means of the Nigerian defence and shot previous Daniel Akpeyi.

Cameroon had way more possession of the ball with Christian Bassogog, Collins, Bahoken and captain Choupo-Moting working arduous, however they met a brick wall every time they launched an onslaught. Musa well chested the ball for Ighalo from a Chidozie Awaziem cross 18 minutes into the second half, and the poacher booted it previous Andre Onana into the online for Nigeria’s equalizer.

The Eagles had been within the ascendancy and wouldn’t permit the euphoria to fade. Three minutes later, Ola Aina discovered Ighalo near the opposition field, and the striker threaded the ball by means of the legs of Michael Ngadeu to Iwobi, who completed with aplomb. Nigeria had as soon as once more booted out the Cup holders!

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