There will be fireworks when Nigeria and Cameroon face each other at Alexandria Stadium in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations last 16.
Despite suffering a loss to Madagascar in their last group game, Nigeria booked their place in the knockout stages and seeing that they have already kept two clean sheets at the tournament in Egypt, we are positive that the Super Eagles will rely on their rock-solid defence in Saturday’s football match.
Cameroon, on the other hand, managed to keep a clean sheet in each of their three group games, meaning that a low-scoring affair is on the cards in the AFCON derby. A man to watch in the home side will be Arsenal winger Alex Iwobi, whilst Nigeria defenders should have PSG attacker Jean-Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting at bay. Anyhow, the two teams seem to be evenly matched and the game is likely to go into extra-time.
Cameroon are an African team that played their first ever game against Belgian Congo back in 1956. The Indomitable Lions made 7 appearances at the World Cup finals and they recorded their best result at the major tournament in 1990.
Cameroon made it to the 1990 World Cup quarter-finals by beating Colombia in the last 16, but England proved to be a big catch for the African team.
Speaking of African cup of Nations, Cameroon clinched their fourth CAN trophy in 2002, when they defeated Senegal in the title game. A number of world-class footballers played for the Indomitable Lions in the past and the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Rigobert Song, Roger Milla, Patrick M’Boma, Stephane Mbia and Geremi are the most notable players who were part of the Cameroonian national football team.
Samuel Eto’o made 118 appearances for Cameroon, scoring 56 goals for the national team and he is regarded as the team’s top scorer. Eto’o used to play for the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Everton and Sampdoria in the past.
The Super Eagles must find their way past the Indomitable Lions to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the competition in Egypt.
The Super Eagles qualified for the knockout phase after finishing as Group B runners-up following their 2-0 defeat to Madagascar.
They now face the Indomitable Lions who booked their place in the knockout phase after Benin Republic held them to a 0-0 draw at Ismailia Stadium, Ismailia on Tuesday.
Clarence Seedorf’s men conceded Group F’s top spot to Ghana because the Black Stars scored more goals. Cameroon must now beat Gernot Rohr’s side for a place in the last eight.
Nigeria defeated Cameroon 2-1 in their last outing in the competition with Jay-Jay Okocha and John Utaka finding the target at the 2004 edition staged in Tunisia.
However, former Nigeria international Mutiu Adepoju has warned the Super Eagles to expect a very tough contest against Cameroon at the Alexandria Stadium.
Nigeria finished as Group B runners-up behind Madagascar and have been paired against Clarence Seedorf’s men, who settled for the second place in Group F, after a goalless draw against Benin on Tuesday.
Saturday’s meeting between the West African countries in Alexandria will be for a place in the quarterfinals of AFCON.
Adepoju, who was a member of the Super Eagles’ team which lost to Cameroon at 2000 AFCON final in Lagos, urged Gernot Rohr’s men to take Madagascar setback as motivation for the crucial fixture.
“Nigeria should be prepared for a tough game. Cameroon will always be Cameroon even though the team has changed from what he faced back then,” Adepoju told Goal.
“Nevertheless, they are always a tough opposition and whenever they are playing against Nigeria, it is always tough and a war.
“I believe our Nigerian team is capable. They should forget about what happened against Madagascar and face the next challenge.
“Losing to Madagascar should be a kind of motivation for the match against Cameroon because Nigerians are counting on them.
“They should up their game and change their attitude. They should give their best because I believe Cameroon will be more motivated in the next round.”
Nigeria won the continental title in 1980, 1994 and 2013, and they are in the hunt for their fourth triumph in Egypt.
HEAD TO HEAD
18.03.1984 Abidjan (Final) Cameroon 3-1 Nigeria
17.03.1988 Rabat (Group Stage) Cameroon 1-1 Nigeria
27.03.1988 Casablanca (Final) Cameroon 1-0 Nigeria
25.01.1992 Dakar (Third Place) Nigeria 2-1 Cameroon
13.02.2000 Lagos (Final) Nigeria 2-2 (3-4 penalties) Cameroon
08.02.2004 Monastir (Quarter Finals) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
AFCON 2019 ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES
Morocco v Benin Republic
Uganda v Senegal
Nigeria v Cameroon
Egypt v South Africa
Madagascar v DR Congo
Algeria v Equatorial Guinea
Mali v Côte d’Ivoire
Ghana v Tunisia
