This game is the eighth encounter between Nigeria and Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Notably, three of these previous meetings occurred in the tournament’s finals during 1984, 1988, and 2000 – with Cameroon emerging victorious in each instance.
90+ 10 mins: The referee blows the final whistle and Nigeria are into the quarter-finals.
90 + 3 mins: The indomitable lions of Cameroon are fighting to see if they can salvage a thing.
90 + 1 mins: It is 10 minutes of added time announced by the assistant referees.
89 mins: Lookman scores again.
86 mins: Moses Simon picks Nigeria’s first yellow card of the game. A Cameroonian free kick was turned into a counter by Nigeria. Iwobi wastes the effort. Goal kick to Cameroon.
82 mins: The game rush is setting in and getting more interesting.
77 mins: Uzoho comes in for Nwabali who has been stretched out of the field. Zaidu comes off for Kenneth Omeruo.
75 mins: It is another cooling break and Cameroon have made their first substitution of the game. First Captain Vincent Aboubakar comes in for Gonzales
73 mins: Nigerian goalkeeper is getting fouled over and over. Nkoudou gets the second yellow card of the game again from the Cameroonian team. Nwabali has gotten his leg bandaged and Francis Uzoho is warming up as a likely substitute.
70 mins: Nwabali punches the ball out of the box after a beautifully lifted free kick into the box. Much pressure is mounting on the
66 mins: Super Eagles goalkeeper Nwabali is back on his feet after a tackle in the air had him attended to by the medical team.
58 mins: The Cameroonians are waking up and are more likely taking charge of the game now. Nigeria team doing much of the defending.
55 mins: It’s the first yellow card of the game for the Cameroonian (Christopher Wooh) after a foul on Onyeka who was on a counter effort. It is a free kick, off the post taken by Lookman.
48 mins: It is another tackle on Osihmen. Nigeria’s free-kick was easily taken by the Cameroonian goalkeeper.
46 mins: The second half of the game begins and both sides look hopeful as to what the half holds. Nigeria wins a free kick after a hard tackle on Napoli striker Osihmen.
First Half
Nigeria scores through Semi Ajayi’s rebound in the 35th minute after a long press in the opposition’s box
However, the goal was subjected to a VAR review.
The Moroccan referee, Rédouane Jiyed, ruled the goal offside.
30 mins: Nigeria have two shots on target while Cameroon have none.
They are on a cooling break in the first half.
32 mins: The game has resumed.
35 mins: Lookman scores after a battled assist from Osihmen.
44 mins: Zaidu is down injured. Cameroon wins a free kick. It was a wasted effort—Goalkick to Nigeria.
45 mins: It is six minutes of added time. Nigeria have yet to see another breakthrough.
45 + 4 mins: Cameroon yet to see a shot on target, despite winning more possessions (44% – 56%). The referee has not served any card in this half.
45 + 6 mins: It is half-time and the teams head into the tunnel.
Here is the line-up:
Goalkeeper: Stanley Nwabali
Defenders: Semi Ajayi, William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina
Wing-backs: Ola Aina, Zaidu Sanusi
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi
Forwards: Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon
Cameroon confirmed line-up vs Nigeria
Formation: (3-4-3)
Goalkeeper: Fabrice Ondoa
Defenders: Jean-Charles Castelletto, Christopher Wooh, Oumar Gonzalez
Wing-backs: Nouhou Tolo, Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu
Midfielders: Olivier Ntcham, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa
Forwards: Georges-Kevin N’Koudou, Karl Toko Ekambi, Frank Magri
Stay tuned for all the excitement as two powerhouse teams from the continent clash in the AFCON round of 16 in Abidjan.
