AFCON 2023: History Favours Super Eagles As Cameroon’s Lions Arrive Abidjan

Historical past, pedigree, present type and turf familiarity are elements weighing closely in favour of the Tremendous Eagles as they confront the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon within the Spherical of 16 on the thirty fourth Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.

Learn Additionally: Nigeria To Play Cameroon After Defeating Libya At Africa Handball Nations Cup

5-time champions Cameroon prosecuted their group section video games in Yamoussoukro, and have now arrived in Cote d’Ivoire’s industrial and industrial capital for Saturday’s potentially-explosive encounter with three-time champions Nigeria.

In impact, Nigeria and Cameroon have clashed in 17 aggressive matches since their first of such matches within the Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah Cup on eighth December 1962, which Nigeria received 3-1. Of these 17 matches, Cameroon have received solely 4 – three of those within the Ultimate matches of the Africa Cup of Nations in 1984, 1988 and 2000. The one different time Cameroon have crushed Nigeria in a aggressive match was on twenty seventh August 1989, when Francois Omam Biyick scored the one purpose in Yaounde that eradicated Nigeria from the race to the 1990 FIFA World Cup finals in Italy.

Nigeria have received 9 of the opposite 13 matches, together with a 2-1 defeat of Cameroon within the bronze medal-match of the 1992 AFCON; a 2-0 triumph in a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Ibadan; a 3-2 win in Yaounde in a 1970 World Cup qualifier; a 2-1 win in Monastir in a 2004 AFCON quarter-final; a 4-0 win in Uyo in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier and; a 3-2 win in Alexandria in a 2019 AFCON Spherical of 16 conflict.

Greater than the above, the Tremendous Eagles presently boast the Africa Participant of the Yr in Victor Osimhen, and the Tremendous Eagles have extra familiarity with the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, the place they pipped Guinea Bissau 1-0 on Monday to verify of their place on this competitors’s Spherical of 16.

Nigeria have reached the Spherical of 16 after scooping seven factors, unbeaten of their three matches; Cameroon have been battered 3-1 by Cup holders Senegal and fought laborious to beat The Gambia in added time to verify of a spot within the knock-out rounds.

As each groups put together for the large day, thenff.com takes a cursory take a look at the SEVEN earlier clashes involving Nigeria and Cameroon on the Africa Cup of Nations – the continent’s flagship soccer championship:

1) 1984 AFCON FINAL MATCH: Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan

Coach Adegboye Onigbinde introduced in Patrick Okala for Peter Rufai, who was injured in a bruising semi-final encounter with Egypt, which went to penalties in Bouake 4 days earlier. Bala Ali, who bought the equalizer in that match, began instead of Chibuzor Ehilegbu. Fast winger Clement Temile, two-goal hero in opposition to Malawi within the group section, additionally began from the bench, with Stephen Keshi, Kingsley Paul, Paul Okoku, Muda Lawal, Humphrey Edobor, Yisa Sofoluwe and James Etokebe among the many starters.

Etokebe sprinted to a by way of cross by Edobor and made a pull-out that Antoine-Bell fumbled for Muda Lawal to lash in for Nigeria’s purpose. A free-kick late within the first half brushed Keshi’s head to fly previous Okala for the equalizer, and Abega put Cameroon in entrance earlier than Eugene Ekoule’s winner. The Lions deployed their large expertise and publicity on the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain, the place they exited at group section with out dropping any of their matches in opposition to Poland, Peru and eventual winners Italy.

2) 1988 AFCON GROUP PHASE MATCH: Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, Rabat

Samuel Okwaraji, who solely joined the workforce the earlier yr, scored with a scorching left-footed shot after solely two minutes, however Cameroon equalized 20 minutes later with a header by Roger Milla, with the Nigeria defence considering they’d stored him offside. The draw adopted a 3-0 defeat of Kenya, and meant Nigeria solely wanted a draw of their subsequent match in opposition to Egypt (which they bought) to succeed in the semi finals.

Goalkeeper Peter Rufai, defenders Yisa Sofoluwe, Andrew Uwe, Sunday Eboigbe and Vivid Omokaro, midfielders Henry Nwosu and Ademola Adeshina, and forwards Okwaraji and Rashidi Yekini have been amongst these concerned.

3) 1988 AFCON FINAL MATCH: Stade King Mohamed V, Casablanca

Nigeria, who had survived one other bruising semi-final, wherein they went to penalty shootout with Algeria after a 1-1 draw after regulation and additional time, began brightly with Nkiru Okosieme put in on the correct, Humphrey Edobor on the left and livewire Henry Nwosu in every single place.

Henry Nwosu’s highly effective header from Sam Okwaraji’s pull-out on the correct sailed previous Antoine-Bell, however referee Idrissa Sarr from Mauritania dominated off the strike. Cameroon scored with 10 minutes into the second half, when Eboigbe impeded Roger Milla and Emmanuel Kunde fired previous Peter Rufai from the spot.

3) 1992 AFCON BRONZE MEDAL MATCH: Stade de l’Amitie, Dakar

Each groups wanted to self-motivate after dropping their semi-final matches, with the Eagles bumped by Ghana and Cameroon ejected after a penalty shootout by eventual winners Cote d’Ivoire. Coach Philippe Redon had dropped goalkeeper Antoine-Bell, who misplaced the essential penalty in opposition to the Ivorians, and introduced in Jacques Songo’o. The Lions’ squad additionally included Emile Mbouh, Benjamin Massing, Cyril Makanaky, Jean-Claude Pagal and Kessack Maboang.

Nigeria had Alloy Agu in purpose, and in addition included Emeka Ezeugo, Isaac Semitoje, Nduka Ugbade, Reuben Agboola, Victor Ikpeba, Friday Ekpo, Mutiu Adepoju, Finidi George and Rashidi Yekini. Ekpo fired dwelling from a 22-yard free-kick to offer Nigeria the lead with quarter-hour to go, however the Lions equalized within the eighty fifth minute by way of Bahoang. Yekini, who had scored three targets earlier within the match (two in opposition to Kenya and one in opposition to Zaire), bought the winner from an acute angle with two minutes left.

To Be Continued

Submit Views: 111