Skip to main content

AFCON Round Of 16: Super Eagles Seek To Fly Past Indomitable Lions

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will plan to destroy the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in tonight's Round of 16 in the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d'Ivoire.

Both countries are familiar foes and have met more than five times at different stages of the AFCON. 

The Indomitable Lions however, have won when it mattered most as they defeated the Super Eagles in the AFCON finals of 1984, 1988 and 2000 to lift the trophy for their first three wins, before going on to win their fourth and fifth AFCON titles respectively in 2002 against Senegal and 2017 against Egypt.

On the part of Nigeria, it won bronze medal in AFCON 1992 after defeating Cameroon in a third place match courtesy of a late Rashidi Yekini's solo run goal. Austin Okocha captained the Super Eagles to a 2-1 quarter final win over Cameroon at the 2004 AFCON edition, while Nigeria also defeated their arch rivals at the 2019 edition by three goals to two.


The Super Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the Cote d'Ivoire African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 Round of 16 and will slug it out with perennial rivals, Cameroon, following a slim 1-0 win over Guinea Bissau in the last match of their Group.

The Nigerian side, which finished second in Group A behind Group leaders, Equatorial Guinea and above host nation, Cote d'Ivoire will battle long-time foe, Cameroon in the Round of 16 on Saturday, January 27.

A bizarre own goal by a Guinea Bissau defender in the 36th minute from a Moses Simon cross gave the Super Eagles a much-needed win. The Nigerian team had automatically secured qualification for the Round of 16, after getting four points from their two previous Group matches. The Super Eagles played a 1-1 draw in their first match against Equatorial Guinea and pipped Ivory Coast 1-0 in their second  Group match.

Nigeria however needed the win over Guinea Bissau to guarantee them against playing tournament favourites and AFCON defending champions, Senegal in the Round of 16.

Going into the AFCON 2023 knockout stages, the 1980, 1994, and 2013 AFCON champions need to play as a team in order to surmount the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. The Super Eagles could put smiles on the faces of hundreds of millions football-loving Nigerians when both countries square up by 9 pm on Saturday, January 27th.

The Nigeria versus Cameroon Round of 16 games will be played at Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny.

It should be recalled that the recent AFCON match between the Super Eagles and Indomitable Lions happened at the 2019 AFCON hosted by Egypt. The match ended 3-2 with Nigeria winning following a brace from Odion Ighalo and a goal from Alex Iwobi.

What are your predictions for tonight's match between Nigeria and Cameroon? Will the Super Eagles fly past the Indomitable Lions at the end of regulation time or after penalty shootout?





Oladele Hakeem Olaniyan who lives in Nigeria wrote this piece for Naijaloveinfo.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

#RamadanDailyDigest: What You Should Tell Troublemakers While Fasting

Today's Ramadan Daily Digest comes with another scintillating topic titled what you should tell troublemakers while fasting, as Ramadan fasting enters Day 13. It is important that as a fasting Muslim, first of all, you should not create problems for others or yourself at all times, as you should know what you should tell troublemakers while fasting, in order to have all the rewards of Ramadan and not just putting yourself under hunger and thirst, which means a nullity in fasting. READ THIS TOO:  Fasting For 18 Hours Isn't A Joke What the above paragraph is explaining likewise is that you, as a fasting Muslim should not be a troublemaker by causing problems with your tongue during Ramadan fasting. It is important to add quickly that whether before, during or after Ramadan, you should not cause rancour among people. In some instances, people who dare not talk to you with disgust might want to tease you as they know you are fasting. Therefore, you should know what to tell troublem...
Post a Comment
Read more

Little Boko Haram Survivor Walks Again After Delicate Surgery In Dubai (GOOD NEWS)

Barely three months of delicate surgical operation in Dubai, a Boko Haram child victim, Ali Ahmadu, has returned to Nigeria. Ali, who had been on wheelchair in the last four years, can now walk, to the joy and relief of the huge crowd which welcomed him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Monday, December 4. Full of hearty smiles, Ali  moved about freely, amid hugs and handshakes with the crowd. He arrived the country with  his aunt, Hannatu Madu, Soordinator of Global Initiative for Peace, Love and Care (GIPLC),  Nuhu Kwajafa and representatives of Dickens Sanomi Foundation, which footed his bill. In smattering English laced with Hausa, Ali replied “I am fine,” when asked about his health. He stunned the crowd when he said his main aspiration is to be a policeman, so “to save people from harm.” But, it is not over for Ali. Upon his return,  Taleveras Foundation has announced scholarship for him, from primary school to the unive...
Post a Comment
Read more

#RamadanDailyDigest: Why Have You Been Playing Since Ramadan Day 1?

Are you one of those fasting Muslims who have been playing since Ramadan Day 1 in terms of the different acts of worship? Ramadan Daily Digest will try to highlight why every fasting Muslim should be up and doing regarding different acts of worship as Ramadan clocks eight days after sunset today. Have you been playing since Ramadan Day 1? This question is directed towards you. There are important acts of worship that you might have not started doing in Ramadan which shows you need to buckle up. 1. Daily recitation of the Glorious Qur'an The Glorious Qur'an is the most important book in the life of all Muslims. Every Muslim is expected to recite at least a verse from it daily. In the month of Ramadan however, all fasting Muslims are expected to recite hundreds of verses daily. The Glorious Qur'an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in the month of Ramadan. The month of Ramadan is all about reciting so many verses. If you have not open...
Post a Comment
Read more