Cameroon vs. Nigeria: preview, h2h, prediction, player to watch as Super Falcons target World Cup ticket against Lionesses

The defending champions commerce tackles with their bitter West African neighbours for a spot within the competitors’s final 4

Nigeria will face Cameroon within the quarterfinals of the 2022 Girls Africa Cup of Nations with greater than only a semifinal ticket at stake.

A win in Casablanca, Morocco, on Thursday for both the Tremendous Falcons or the Indomitable Lions will assure the victor a spot in subsequent 12 months’s FIFA Girls’s World Cup.

There could be WAFCON tears for the loser. Nonetheless, a spot in February’s inter-confederation playoffs in New Zealand and Australia will supply comfort and a again door to the Mundial.

Match preview

Regardless of shedding their opening match 2-1 to South Africa, the Tremendous Falcons are the best attacking unit in Morocco with seven targets.

The nine-time continental champions humbled Botswana 2-0 on matchday two and bumped Burundi 4-0 on Sunday to make it previous the group stage.

Cameroon, identical to Nigeria, completed as their group’s runners-up. The Indomitable Lionesses are, nonetheless, unbeaten in three matches up to now – successful one and drawing two video games.

The Lionesses pressured high-flying Zambia to a stalemate, drew 1-1 in opposition to Togo, and taught Tunisia a 2-0 lesson.

With a decent defence conceding solely as soon as, the Cameroonians could also be in the perfect form to face their everlasting nemesis.

Head-to-head

Nigeria are probably the most profitable group on the WAFCON, with probably the most titles (9) and probably the most victories (53).

Cameroon have been the unlucky shedding aspect on three of these time the Falcons triumphed.

The Lionesses have been runners-up to Nigeria in 2004, 2014, and 2016.

An African big in their very own proper, the Cameroonians have the third most wins on the Wafcon (21) – behind Nigeria and South Africa.

The Lionesses are certainly one of simply three groups to have crushed (in 2012) the Falcons within the final 16 years, although it’s their solely win within the final 5 encounters in opposition to the Nigerians.

Penalties have been, nonetheless, wanted to separate the 2 groups the final time they met within the semifinal of the 2018 version.

The Tremendous Falcons additionally triumphed on penalties within the closing in opposition to South Africa to carry the trophy in Ghana.

Match particulars

Competitors: Africa Girls Cup of Nations
Match: Cameroon vs. Nigeria
Stage: Quarterfinals
Venue: Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco.
Date: Thursday, July 14, 2022
Kickoff time: 18:00 (6 pm, Nigerian time)

Nigerian participant to observe

With Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala injured, others have stepped as much as be counted, together with Mexico-based Uchenna Kanu, who grabbed a brace in opposition to Burundi.

The star lady of the Nigerian group, nonetheless, stays Rasheedat Ajibade.

The 22-year-old Atletico Madrid ahead made it into CAF’s greatest eleven of the group stage alongside defensive kingpin Osinachi Ohale.

Ajibade’s imaginative and prescient and high quality within the closing third might be essential to any Tremendous Falcons victory on Thursday.

#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2021 Group Stage’s BEST XI:

✖️2️⃣ #TeamSouthAfrica
✖️2️⃣ #TeamMorocco
✖️2️⃣ #TeamZambia
✖️2️⃣ #TeamNigeria
✖️1️⃣ #TeamCameroon
✖️1️⃣ #TeamTunisia
✖️1️⃣ #TeamBotswana

???? ? ???? ???? ??! ⚡️#EmpoweringOurGame pic.twitter.com/vZ3Olrd3hi

— #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 (@CAFwomen) July 11, 2022

Prediction

With an unrivalled historical past and a fearsome assault, Nigeria would be the slight favourites in opposition to the Indomitable Lionesses.

However the Cameroonians have dogged fighters and can match the Falcons on each blade of grass on that Moroccan pitch. A slim win will settle this.

Tip: Cameroon 0 – 1 Nigeria