Nigeria and Cameroon will face each other in the second quarter-final of the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday. In Group A, the Super Eagles came in second place behind Equatorial Guinea. In Group C, Rigobert Song’s team advanced behind a flawless Senegal after a dramatic late comeback.
Preview (Nigeria vs. Cameroon)
Despite being turgid in their Group A finale against Guinea-Bissau, Jose Peseiro’s team managed to finish with seven points and qualify in second place despite losing to the undefeated team. Despite entering the knockout round as the competition’s top creators and creating more clear-cut opportunities (13) than the other 23 teams, the Super Eagles have struggled to score goals at AFCON 2023, managing only three goals. At the continental championship, Victor Osimhen’s anticipated goals (xG) underperformance is the worst. The African Footballer of the Year’s finishing has been subpar in games against Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Guinea-Bissau.
When the competition reaches a critical point, Nigeria needs its talisman back to full strength. If they rely solely on their defensive play, they risk losing if opportunities are not converted on the other end. Peseiro cautioned his team to improve their performance in the knockout stages. It will be interesting to watch if anything changes when they play the Indomitable Lions on Saturday. The two teams have a long-standing rivalry at the Cup of Nations. Many Super Eagles supporters still find it painful that Cameroon won the 2000 Cup of Nations final in Lagos.
The Indomitable Lions have lost all three of their competitive encounters against the nation. It includes a 3-2 setback at the 2019 finals in Egypt. The 2017 champions have lost their advantage in this matchup. Although it’s unclear if Song’s team will prevail this weekend, the Lions need to outperform a Super Eagles team that hasn’t given up much defensively to surpass them. Throughout their matches with Guinea, Senegal, and The Gambia, Cameroon’s emphasis on the crossing was clear. Their opening encounter against a depleted Syli National highlighted this strategy.
Team News
Peseiro’s decision to play Guinea-Bissau with a back three hints that the Nigerian manager may stick with that lineup for the remainder of the tournament. William Troost-Ekong and Alhassan Yussuf should be back in the starting lineup. However, it’s unclear how the midfield player will play until the Super Eagles switch from a 3-4-2-1 to a 3-5-2 formation. Ademola Lookman was a substitute in Nigeria’s last group match, but the forward for Atalanta BC should return to the starting lineup, with Zaidu Sanusi expected to start against the Cameroonian Lions.
Peseiro’s decision to play Guinea-Bissau with a back three hints that the Nigerian manager may stick with that lineup for the remainder of the tournament. William Troost-Ekong and Alhassan Yussuf should be back in the starting lineup, however it’s unclear how the midfield player will play until the Super Eagles switch from a 3-4-2-1 to a 3-5-2 formation. Ademola Lookman was a substitute in Nigeria’s last group match, but the forward for Atalanta BC should return to the starting lineup, with Zaidu Sanusi expected to start against the Cameroonian Lions.
Nigeria 1-2 Cameroon
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