They registered a commanding 4-0 victory over Mozambique
Victor Osimhen (L) celebrates with Ademola Lookman as Frank Onyeka watches on throughout Nigeria’s snug win towards Mozambique on the Africa Cup of Nations. Picture: AFP
FES:
Victor Osimhen scored twice as Nigeria made quick work of Mozambique on the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, cruising into the quarter-finals with a complete 4-0 victory of their last-16 tie.
Ademola Lookman, a former winner of the African footballer of the yr award like Osimhen, opened the scoring after 20 minutes in Fes, Morocco, after which helped arrange the opposite three objectives on the evening.
Osimhen had began the sport with out carrying his trademark masks however restored the face overlaying earlier than netting Nigeria’s second objective on 25 minutes. He then scored once more simply after half-time earlier than Akor Adams sealed the win.
It’s the greatest successful margin in an AFCON knockout tie since Egypt hammered Algeria 4-0 within the semi-finals on the 2010 match in Angola.
“I’m very glad. It was an excellent efficiency from the staff, scoring 4 objectives. There’s heaps to be proud of. Hopefully we will sustain the nice work,” mentioned Lookman, named man of the match.
Decided to make up for his or her failure to qualify for the World Cup, the Tremendous Eagles march on to a last-eight tie on Saturday in Marrakesh towards both Algeria or the Democratic Republic of Congo.
These groups conflict within the final 16 on Tuesday and a victory in that sport for DR Congo would supply Nigeria an opportunity to avenge their defeat on penalties towards the Leopards in a World Cup qualifying play-off in November.
Mozambique had been showing within the knockout section of an AFCON for the primary time after advancing as among the best third-placed sides within the group stage.
They had been no match for a Nigerian staff that was much-changed from their closing group sport, when coach Eric Chelle provided an opportunity to a number of fringe gamers for a 3-1 victory towards Uganda.
Atalanta ahead Lookman — who scored within the 3-2 win over Tunisia within the second group match — was amongst these introduced again into the line-up and Africa’s finest participant in 2024 gave his staff the lead because the halfway level within the first half approached.
Alex Iwobi’s by way of ball launched Adams on the left facet of the field and his cutback was transformed first-time by Lookman.
The 28-year-old then turned supplier, together with his cross from the left within the twenty fifth minute being helped on by Adams for Osimhen to poke the ball in from shut vary.
The Galatasaray striker emerged unscathed quickly after that regardless of going right into a problem with Witi which noticed the Mozambique participant knee Osimhen within the abdomen.
Lookman’s low ball throughout the face of objective from the left was completed off by Osimhen to make it 3-0 within the forty seventh minute and finish any prospect of a Mozambique comeback.
The 2023 African participant of the yr had gone seven AFCON matches with out scoring earlier than netting towards Tunisia within the group stage — he now has three to his identify on the match in Morocco.
Lookman was not completed for the evening as he provided Adams contained in the field with quarter of an hour remaining and the Sevilla ahead rifled a shot excessive into the online.
