AFCON 2023: 5 Interesting Facts About Nigeria’s 2-0 Win Against Cameroon

Nigeria’s Super Eagles defeated Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions to progress into the quarter-finals of the AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire. A brace from Ademola Lookman helped the three-time AFCON winners progress where they will face Angola on Friday. Meanwhile, here are five interesting facts to know about the Eagles win against Cameroon. Super Eagles avenged defeat to Cameroon at the same venue 40 year ago Nigeria and Cameroon clashed in the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations held in Côte d’Ivoire. The venue for the 1984 final was Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan which saw Cameroon come from behind to win 3-1 and claim their first-ever AFCON title. On Saturday, the two teams met in the round of 16 inside the same stadium where they met in 1984, this time the Eagles emerged 2-0 winners thanks to Ademola Lookman’s double. Super Eagles beat Cameroon by two-goal margin for the first time at the AFCON Prior to the game on Saturday, the Eagles had beaten Cameroon three times at the AFCON. The first time the Eagles beat Cameroon at the AFCON was the third-placed playoff in 1992 which ended 2-1. In the quarter-finals in 2004 a Austin Okocha-led side triumphed over Cameroon 2-1 and at the 2019 round of 16 fixture the Eagles won 3-2. But Saturday’s game saw the Eagles claim a 2-0 win, making it the first time they will beat Cameroon by a two-goal scoreline at the AFCON. First clean sheet for Super Eagles against Cameroon at the AFCON Saturday’s clash was the eight time Nigeria and Cameroon will meet at the AFCON after their first encounter in the final in 1984. In the previous seven meetings the Eagles have failed to keep a clean which they eventually achieved in the 2-0 win. The final in 1984 ended 3-1 to Cameroon, in the group stage at the 1988 AFCON both sides settled for a 1-1 draw before Cameroon triumphed 1-0 in the final also in 1988. In the third-placed playoffs the Eagles won 2-1, the final in 2000 ended 2-2 before Cameroon won 3-2 on penalty shootout. At the 2004 AFCON quarter-final tie the Nigerian team won 2-1 and also overcame the Cameroonians 3-2 in round 16 of the 2019 tournament. Super Eagles have now beaten Cameroon in three consecutive AFCON meetings The 2-0 win against Cameroon means the Super Eagles have now beaten Cameroon in their last three meetings at the AFCON. Since the AFCON 2000 final which Cameroon won, the Eagles have been victorious in the next three AFCON clashes in 2004, 2019 and now 2024. Super Eagles have finished third in every AFCON they’ve beaten Cameroon The Super Eagles 2-0 win against Cameroon has led to football fans in Nigeria dreaming of the team winning the AFCON. However, it is on record that in the three times the Eagles defeat Cameroon at the AFCON they always finished third. When both teams clashed in the third-placed playoff in 1992 the Eagles won 2-1, after edging Cameroon 2-1 in the quarter-finals in 2004, the Eagles lost on penalty shootout to Tunisia in the semifinals before beating Mali 2-1 to emerge third. Then in 2019, the Eagles beat Cameroon 3-2 in the round of 16, got to the semis and lost 2-1 to Algeria. But in the third-place tie the Eagles beat Tunisia 1-0 thanks to Odion Ighalo first half st[rike. It remains to be seen if this time around the Eagles will eventually become AFCON winners after overcoming Cameroon.