Nigeria will meet Cameroon today, Saturday, January 27, at Abidjan’s Félicia stadium, in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16, time 8pm.
It is highly anticipated clash.
This is undoubtedly the most anticipated fixture of the round of 16 of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
The neighbouring countries endured wildly different group stages with the Super Eagles enjoying a cruise into the knockouts with victories over Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau.
Cameroon, meanwhile, were on the verge of a shock exit at the hands of Gambia when two stoppage-time goals sent them through in dramatic fashion.
But the rumours surrounding their camp and a set on uninspiring performances make them the underdogs to reach the quarter-finals, where Namibia or Angola will lie in wait.
The Indomitable Lions will be keen to avenge their defeat to Nigeria at this stage of the 2019 AFCON, whereas it was the Super Eagles who were ousted by Tunisia in the last-16 two years ago.
At a pre-match press conference on Friday, January 26, Jose Peseiro, coach of the Super Eagles said Nigeria was aiming to win.
Cameroon’s Rigobert Song said while he respected Nigeria, his team was coming for victory.
“We started slowly. We’re gradually building up, and tomorrow’s match is going to be another game,” Song said.
Both teams have had an underwhelming start to the campaign. Nigeria finished second in Group A behind Equatorial Guinea, while Cameroon narrowly survived elimination thanks to a late 3-2 win against Gambia.
The two giants of African football have met three times on the continent’s biggest stage, with Nigeria winning 3-2 in 2019 and 2-1 in 2004 after Cameroon triumphed 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw four years earlier. HEAD- TO-HEAD
Coaches’ comments ahead of the clash
José Peseiro – Nigeria coach:
“It’s a difficult match. We are in the round of 16 and playing against a great team. We don’t want to concede, we want to score a goal and maintain our lead. We expect that history will not repeat itself at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Even if the statistics are not for us, we are going to play. It is a mission that has been entrusted to us and we are going to try to carry it out. We want to win; we want to stay in this tournament until the end.”
Moses Simon – Nigeria striker:
“We feel good. We take the matches one after the other and we hope to do like in the previous matches. In 2019 we played against Cameroon, we know they are strong, and I think today they are better than in 2019 and we also improved as well. We know their weak points and so we will take the match as it comes”.
Rigobert Song, Cameroon coach:
“We know what we need to do and where we need to go. We have prepared and remain focused. We started slowly, moving up gradually. At this stage of the competition, I think there are no more things to look for. In three matches, I no longer have the right to calculate, I have to correct what didn’t work. I will do everything necessary to obtain a positive result”.
Faris Pemi Moumbagna, Cameroon striker:
“We prepared well, the atmosphere is good in the group. We are going to stay in the same state of mind and continue to give the best of us. We are going to approach this match with 200% effort. We are going to give everything on the pitch like we did against Gambia, we are not going to give up”.
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