– Nigeria vs Cameroon saw the Super Eagles reach the quarterfinals with a 3-2 over the defending champions at AFCON 2019
– Stephane Bahoken and Njie netted twice in the first half fired the Indomitable Lions into the break
– Odion Ighalo netted the opener of the game and the leveler before Alex Iwobi netted the winner for the Super Eagles
Nigeria qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a 3-2 win over defending champions Cameroon on Saturday, July 6, at Alexandria Stadium.
The Round of 16 tie at AFCON saw Cameroon handed the first chance to score after 16 minutes, through a Pierre Kounde corner-kick, but Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui’s header inside the box sailed over the crossbar.
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In the 19th minute, Nigeria were awarded a free-kick after Cameroon’s Yaya Banana brought down Ahmed Musa.
The resultant set piece found Kenneth Omeruo who nodded the ball across to Odion Ighalo to finish off courtesy of a deflection.
Nigeria had another chance to increase their lead in the 38th minute, with Musa cruising past his Ngadeu, but the Cameroonian defender was spot on with his tackle to clear the danger.
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With the halftime break closing in, the Indomitable Lions were rewarded with an equaliser in the 41st minute.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting connected Christian Bassogog on the left wing, who delivered the ball to Stephane Bahoken to finish off behind Kenneth Omeruo to see both sides level on 1-1.
However, on the 44th minute, Banana’s long-ball up field was flicked on by Bahoken for Clinton N’Jie to score Cameroon’s second goal in a one-on-one situation with Daniel Akpeyi.
READ ALSO: AFCON 2019: Benin waipiga Morocco 4-1 kupitia penalti baada ya kutoka sare ya 1-1
The Super Eagles came close to leveling scores in the added time of the first half, with Wilfred Ndidi finding Moses Simon on the right-hand side of the box, but his strike could not find target.
Moments later, Cameroon came close to extend their advantage through Kounde’s deflected off Ola Aina, but Akpeyi somehow managed to save the danger.
In the 63rd minute, Chidozie Awaziem delivered a decent pass in to the box for Musa who set the ball for Ighalo to fire home the equaliser.
Three minutes later, Ighalo turned from goalscorer to provider with an excellent pass through Banana’s legs to the path of Alex Iwobi, who blasted home the ball past Andre Onana for Nigeria’s third goal of the night.
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With 15 minutes to go, Ighalo came close to completing his hat-trick through a Samuel Chukwueze cross, but his first-time strike was saved by Onana.
Despite other late chances Nigeria held on to claim a hard-fought 3-2 victory and book a quarterfinal spot.
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Source: Tuko Newspaper
