Nigeria beat Cameroon in last 16 after Lookman double

2 years ago 109

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Nigeria reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after Ademola Lookman scored twice to beat a disappointing Cameroon 2-0 in the last 16 in Abidjan.

The Atalanta forward opened the scoring nine minutes before the break after Victor Osimhen forced Oumar Gonzalez into a mistake and then teed up Lookman to fire past goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa, who was preferred to Andre Onana.

Former England Under-21s forward Lookman sealed the win in the 90th minute after one of the game's best moves, volleying home Calvin Bassey's cutback to spark huge celebrations among the three-time champions.

Despite introducing Vincent Aboubakar, top scorer at the 2021 tournament, late on for his first appearance after a muscle injury sustained on the eve of the finals, Cameroon failed to register a shot on target.

The Super Eagles will meet Angola, who impressed in a 3-0 win over Namibia earlier, in the last eight on Friday, also in the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium.

Cameroon coach Rigobert Song will face serious pressure back home following his latest failure, having exited the 2022 World Cup at the group stage.

Cameroon football federation president Samuel Eto'o, who was watching on from the stands, will now having to decide whether to dismiss his former team-mate.

Playing in the stadium where they won the first of their five continental crowns, beating Nigeria in the 1984 final, the Indomitable Lions looked disjointed throughout, as they have been for much of the tournament.

Cameroon have seen off the West Africans in three Nations Cup finals, but the Super Eagles often have the better of their meetings when they meet earlier on.

The victory was Nigeria's second over Cameroon at this stage of the tournament in the past three editions, having won 3-2 in Egypt in 2019.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Nigeria

Formation 3-4-3

23NwabaliSubstituted forUzohoat 80'minutes
6Ajayi
5Troost-Ekong
21Bassey
2AinaBooked at 90mins
8Onyeka
17Iwobi
3SanusiSubstituted forOmeruoat 80'minutes
15SimonBooked at 87minsSubstituted forOsayi-Samuelat 90+9'minutes
9OsimhenSubstituted forOnuachuat 90+9'minutes
18Lookman

Substitutes

1Uzoho
4Yusuf
7Musa
10Aribo
11Chukwueze
12Osayi-Samuel
14Iheanacho
19Onuachu
20Awaziem
22Omeruo
24Moffi
25Onyedika

Cameroon

Formation 3-4-3

1Ondoa
21Castelletto
15GonzalezSubstituted forAboubakarat 78'minutes
4WoohBooked at 53mins
3NgamaleuSubstituted forTchatoat 86'minutes
8Anguissa
22Ntcham
5Tolo
12Toko-EkambiSubstituted forMoumbagnaat 90+6'minutes
9Magri
11NkoudouBooked at 72mins

Substitutes

2Moukoudi
6Kemen
7N'Jie
10Aboubakar
14Tchamadeu
16Epassy
17Neyou
18Yongwa
19Moumbagna
20Elliott
24Onana
26Tchato

Live Text

Match ends, Nigeria 2, Cameroon 0.
Second Half ends, Nigeria 2, Cameroon 0.
Foul by Frank Magri (Cameroon).
Calvin Bassey (Nigeria) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Corner, Nigeria. Conceded by Frank Anguissa.
Substitution, Nigeria. Paul Onuachu replaces Victor Osimhen.
Substitution, Nigeria. Bright Osayi-Samuel replaces Moses Simon.
Attempt missed. Jean-Charles Castelletto (Cameroon) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Faris Moumbagna following a corner.
Corner, Cameroon. Conceded by Ademola Lookman.
Substitution, Cameroon. Faris Moumbagna replaces Karl Toko-Ekambi.
Ola Aina (Nigeria) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Georges-Kévin Nkoudou (Cameroon) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Ola Aina (Nigeria).
Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Kenneth Omeruo (Nigeria).
Foul by Enzo Tchato (Cameroon).
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Goal! Nigeria 2, Cameroon 0. Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Calvin Bassey with a cross following a set piece situation.
Foul by Enzo Tchato (Cameroon).
Calvin Bassey (Nigeria) wins a free kick on the left wing.