Cameroon will face the three-time Africa Cup of Nations winners Nigeria within the final 16 of the continued 2023 version after they defeated Gambia 3-2 on the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké to safe automated qualification yesterday’s night.
Rigobert Tune’s facet will face Nigeria at Abidjan’s Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium on Saturday in a repeat of the 2019 Spherical 16 conflict which the Tremendous Eagles triumph 3-2.
Between the 2 continental giants Nigeria and Cameroon have eight Africa Cup of Nations titles, with the Eagles champions of Africa in 1980, 1994 and 2013, whereas the Lions triumphed in 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002 and 2017.
By the way, Nigeria was the fall-guy for Cameroon’s first three wins, with the primary of these coming proper inside the identical Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan that may host Saturday evening’s Spherical of 16 duel. The Lions received 3-1, regardless of Nigeria getting in entrance after 10 minutes by way of Mudashiru Babatunde Lawal.
In 1988, Nigeria felt cheated when Mauritanian referee Idrissa Sarr disallowed a aim by Henry Nwosu within the first half on the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca. Emmanuel Kunde scored from the spot within the second interval to win it for the Lions.
In 2000, as co-hosts, Nigeria fell behind 0-2 in a memorable last with objectives from Samuel Eto’o and Patrick Mboma, earlier than Raphael Chukwu Ndukwe and Jay-Jay Okocha restored parity. The Lions went forward to win 4-3 after a penalty shootout on the Nationwide Stadium, Lagos.
The Lions efficiently defended their title in Mali two years later, defeating Senegal on penalties inside Bamako’s Stade March 26, after which got here from behind to edge Egypt 2-1 in Libreville in 2017.
Nevertheless, Nigerians will keep in mind with a tune of their coronary heart the Tremendous Eagles’ conquer the Lions within the quarter-finals in Tunisia in 2004, and within the Spherical of 16 in Egypt in 2019, in addition to the 4-0 win over the neighbours in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Uyo in 2017 that paved the way in which for Nigeria’s qualification for Russia 2018.
