Ademola Lookman from Atalanta via South London and Nigeria was the unlikely hero with a brace as Nigeria came out tops and with the bragging rights against eternal rivals Cameroon in the last 16 clash of the Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan.
This West African derby between neighbours is seen by many as the biggest rivalry in African football and form usually goes out of the window on such occasions.
Nigeria v Cameroon is the stuff of legend, with the “Indomitable Lions” proving “indomitable” in three Afcon finals against the “Super Eagles”, in 1986, 1988 and 2000. While Nigeria has had the better of recent encounters in the Afcon last 16 in 2019 and the quarterfinals in 2004.
Cameroon didn’t look good going into this encounter after needing a desperate 3-2 win against Gambia the last game of Group C to scrape through to the next round. But neither did Nigeria, scoring just three goals in three drab games in Group A and with main man and African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, missing quite a few and not looking like the danger man that powered Napoli last season to their first Serie A title in Italy since the days of Diego Maradona.
But Osimhen was in warrior mode today. He is the type of striker who even if he doesn’t score would let defenders know that they have been in a game and would always go out on a shield by giving his all and leaving nothing on the battlefield. He hustled, bustled and harried the Cameroon defence into a mistake with about 10 minutes left in the first half before setting up Lookman for the opener.
Cameroon responded to the deficit and looked the better side, but there was always the feeling that the Nigerians were playing within themselves and may have had a gear to to up to when needed. Better decision making from Moses Simon on the left and Zaidu Sanusi behind him would have led to a more comfortable night for the Eagles.
As they failed to capitalise on their marginal superiority, the Nigerians suffered the scare of losing the reassuring presence of goalie Stanley Nwabali with 10 minutes of regular time left after he landed awkwardly after grabbing a cross. The sight of replacement keeper Francis Uzoho limbering up to come on must have filled many a Nigerian with dread. Especially as previously injured Cameroonian veteran marksman Vincent Aboubakar was joining proceedings in a vain attempt to prevent his country’s exit, at a point in which Nigeria seemed content to hold on to what they had, while looking dangerous on counters.
It was a relief for Super Eagles supporters that Uzoho was not called on to make a save as Nigeria put in a disciplined defensive display with Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka providing a solid shield for the backline, while providing the occasional threat to the Cameroon goal.
Then with two minutes of regular time, Lookman expertly finished off a great move after an assist from Calvin Bassey, who is growing in this tournament as the best passer of a ball in the Nigerian squad.
Next stop Angola in the quarterfinal. There is unfinished business here as they knocked Nigeria out of the 2006 World Cup qualification. At this stage, the result is what counts and performance-wise Angola looks a whole lot better than Nigeria. But Nigeria seems to have it sorted defensively and as coach Jose Peseiro said: “You do not want to concede goals and at least score one and go through”.
