AFCON 2023: Super Eagles to confront Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in Round of 16

Nigeria will battle Cameroon within the Spherical of 16 of the thirty fourth Africa Cup of Nations after the five-time champions edged The Gambia 3-2 in a see-saw group C finale in Bouake on Tuesday.

Between them, continental giants Nigeria and Cameroon have eight Africa Cup of Nations titles between them, with the Eagles champions of Africa in 1980, 1994 and 2013, whereas the Lions triumphed in 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002 and 2017.

By the way, Nigeria was the fall-guy for Cameroon’s first three wins, with the primary of these coming proper inside the identical Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan that may host Saturday evening’s Spherical of 16 duel. The Lions received 3-1, regardless of Nigeria getting in entrance after 10 minutes via Mudashiru Babatunde Lawal.

In 1988, Nigeria felt cheated when Mauritanian referee Idrissa Sarr disallowed a purpose by Henry Nwosu within the first half on the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca. Emmanuel Kunde scored from the spot within the second interval to win it for the Lions.

In 2000, as co-hosts, Nigeria fell behind 0-2 in a memorable remaining with targets from Samuel Eto’o and Patrick Mboma, earlier than Raphael Chukwu Ndukwe and Jay-Jay Okocha restored parity. The Lions went forward to win 4-3 after a penalty shootout on the Nationwide Stadium, Lagos.

The Lions efficiently defended their title in Mali two years later, defeating Senegal on penalties inside Bamako’s Stade March 26, after which got here from behind to edge Egypt 2-1 in Libreville in 2017.

Nevertheless, Nigerians will bear in mind with a track of their coronary heart the Tremendous Eagles’ conquer the Lions within the quarter-finals in Tunisia in 2004, and within the Spherical of 16 in Egypt in 2019, in addition to the 4-0 win over the neighbours in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Uyo in 2017 that paved the best way for Nigeria’s qualification for Russia 2018.

In Alexandria in 2019, additionally within the Spherical of 16, eventual match prime scorer Odion Ighalo scored two of the targets in a 3-2 win, with midfielder Alex Iwobi netting the winner from a superb help by Ighalo.

Saturday’s encounter will start at 8pm Cote d’Ivoire time (9pm Nigeria time).

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