Nigeria is bracing for an intense battle in the last-16 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as they prepare to face long-standing rivals Cameroon, MySportDab Reports.
The Super Eagles secured their spot in the knockout stage with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Guinea-Bissau in their final Group A fixture.
Despite finishing level on points and wins with Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria claimed the second spot in Group A and was slated to meet the runners-up from Group C.
Senegal emerged as the group leaders with a convincing 2-0 win over Guinea, while Cameroon secured an unexpected late comeback against Gambia, prevailing 3-2.
Cameroon, seemingly on the brink of elimination in the 85th minute, staged a remarkable turnaround, benefitting from an own goal by Gambia’s James Gomez and a stoppage-time winner from Christopher Wooh.
The upcoming clash revives memories of the 2019 AFCON, where Nigeria faced Cameroon in the knockout stage, emerging victorious with a 3-2 scoreline. However, history reminds us of Cameroon being a formidable opponent for the Super Eagles, having triumphed over Nigeria in the 1984, 1988, and 2000 finals to claim gold.
The last-16 encounter promises high stakes, with Nigeria aiming to overcome their historical struggles against the Indomitable Lions.
The clash with Cameroon adds a layer of rivalry and anticipation to the AFCON narrative, as the Super Eagles look to rewrite history and secure a crucial victory in their quest for continental glory.
