AFCON 2024: Nigeria Are Through To Quarter-finals After Neatly Defeating Cameroon

 

Ademola Lookman celebrating scoring the winning goal with Victor Osimhen and Alex Nwobi

Nigeria have secured their place in the quarter-finals of the 2024 AFCON Cup after neatly defeating Cameroon by 2-0 with both goals coming from Ademola Lookman. 

The Super Eagles moved up in the leadin the first half as Victor Osimhen latched onto a loose ball from a defensive flop and offloaded a through pass to Lookman, who rifled a side-footed shot from inside the 18-yard box to beat Fabrice Ondoa underneath his arms to the goal. 

Cameroon later conceded a stoppage time goal as Lookman tapped home from inside the six-yard box Calvin Bassey's cross following a set piece. Meanwhile, Ondoa got his hands to the ball but parried it into his own net. 

Nigeria will now progress to meet Angola in the quarter-finals while Cameroon are out of the tournament after losing the match. 

Ademola Lookman beats Fabrice Ondoa to the net for the opening  goal following a fast break from Victor Osimhen

Quick Overview 

Nigeria really deserved the victory against Cameroon and the goal margin did justice to the goal from Semi Ajayi ruled out by the VAR earlier into the game. Osimhen was really selfless with the ball and was inspiring at the front, getting the Cameroonian defense to be loosened enough for Nigeria to get past. 

The set piece leading to the opening goal showed Osimhen to be an experienced striker to have carefully read the defensive flop from his challenge and set of Lookman for the penultimate. Meanwhile, he could have gone for winning a free-kick and that was where his experience played out as an amazing striker. 

William Troost-Ekong played a vital role at the back while Bassey would overlap on the left flank and those efforts eventually culminated in the set piece leading the winning goal. The Cameroonians' aggressive style of play was properly checked by the the Nigerian defense, and that is not to mention, that Alex Iwobi and Ola Aina did a great job in the centre.

Plausible performance from both sides and Cameroon lost to a better side and their long time rivals by a fair margin. It was an interesting game from the two West African neighbours.