Johnson Opeisa
The biggest round of 16 fixture in the ongoing 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is set to be a heavyweight clash between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon by 9 pm (WAT) today, January 27, as both African football giants will have a go at each other in a bid to make into the quarter-final.
Featuring two powerhouses who have eight AFCON trophies between them (Cameroon with 5 and Nigeria with 3) this fixture is projected to embody the intensity befitting the AFCON and rekindle the rivalry between two of the biggest teams on the continent despite their unconvincing start in Côte d’Ivoire.
Nigeria and Cameroon’s progression into the KO Stage
The Super Eagles got a draw and two wins in the competition’s group stage, scoring just three goals in a round where they created the most chances. A 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea and 1-0 victories over host Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau guaranteed the three-time African Champions qualification to the knockout stage, albeit as second behind the Elefantes of Equatorial Guinea who took Group A by storm.
For Rigobert Song’s Indomitable Lions, they secured their round of 16 spot courtesy of a better goal difference, and as first runner-up behind Senegal in group C where Guinea—who garnered the same point as Cameroon (4)—also made it out as one of the four best losers.
Nigeria vs Cameroon Head-to-Head Stat
There have been seven AFCON matches between neighbours, with six games resulting in three wins apiece for both sides, while one ended in a draw.
Although this appears levelled on paper, the bragging rights invariably tilt to Cameroon whose three wins were in the 1984, 1988, and 2000 AFCON finals.
Nigeria vs Cameroon Team News
Jose Peseiro will be heading into this encounter with a clean slate of injuries for the first time since the competition started. Alhassan Yusuf, who missed the Eagles’ last two matches, has been in full training. At the same time, vice-captain William Troost Ekong, who scored the only goal in the side’s win over Côte d’Ivoire, is expected to make a return to the starting XI, after missing their last group game.
Kelechi Iheanacho is likewise expected to feature later today after Peseiro confirmed during his media round yesterday that the Leicester City star “just recovered from injury and will play in the tournament.”
Cameroon aren’t exempted from this injury relief, as the five-time African champions are set to have captain Vincent Aboubakar and Clinton Njié on the team sheet today.
Fabrice Ondoa is however expected to get the nod over Manchester United’s Andre Onana between the sticks, as the 27-year-old’s national team story keeps getting sour by the day.
What to Expect in Nigeria vs Cameroon
Come 9 pm later today at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, it’s going to be a battle between a profligate, yet defensively resolute Nigeria and a high-scoring, defensively vulnerable Cameroon as they face off for the eighth time in the African Cup of Nations.
Although the game is expected to be evenly matched in this light, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, in what’s poised to be their biggest test in Côte d’Ivoire so far, are slightly tipped to do the most and secure their spot in the quarter-final
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