AFCON 2023: Ademola Lookman sends Indomitable Lions home

A brace by Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman lifted Nigeria’s senior men’s national team to a 2-0 victory over Cameroon in the first knockout stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Abidjan on Saturday.

The Super Eagles thought they had gotten an early lead when Semi Ajayi poked into the net from close range after nine minutes.

Unfortunately, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) ruled the goal out for an offside.

For then, the match became balanced and set for a halftime draw before Oumar Gonzalez’s mistimed touch allowed Victor Osimhen to seize on a loose ball, race forward, and locate Lookman who fired a shot that was fumbled into the net by Fabrice Ondoa.

The three-time African champions started the second part of the game on the front foot as Lookman almost doubled the lead from a close-range free kick that went over the bar.

Nouhou Tolo’s high and wide attempt from a distance was all the five-time African champions could offer in response to getting an equaliser.

The West African side continued to create more chances and within time before the end of the game doubled the lead.

Lookman got his second goal of the night in additional time as he raced into Calvin Bassey’s cross and volleyed into the net.

The win was Nigeria’s third straight win over Cameroon as far as the AFCON was concerned after a penalty victory for the Indomitable Lions over the co-host in 2000.

Nigeria beat Cameroon 2-1 and 3-2 at the 2004 and 2019 AFCONs respectively.

Up next for the three-time African champions is a clash with Angola, a team responsible for their failure to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.