AFCON Round of 16: Nigeria vs Cameroon preview
A titanic clash takes place in the Round of 16 today as the Super Eagles of Nigeria take on the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at 20:00 GMT.
These two neighboring nations, who share eight AFCON titles between them last met in this tournament at the same stage of the 2019 edition, where Nigeria came out 3-2 victors.
However, three of Cameroon’s five AFCON titles have come at the expense of Nigeria, beating them in the 1984,1988, and 2000 finals, with the 1984 final being played in the Stade Félix-Houphouët-Boigny, where today’s clash also takes place.
Image Credit: Ben Sutherland / via Wikimedia Commons
The case for Nigeria
The Super Eagles are making their 15th consecutive appearance in the AFCON knockout stages. José Peseiro’s side followed up a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea in their opening game with consecutive 1-0 victories against hosts Ivory Coast, and Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria have conceded only one goal in the tournament so far. However, surprisingly their problems have come up front. Despite their vast depth of attacking talent, their output has been well below par. Despite creating four big chances per game, the Nigerians have only netted a total of three times.
Their talisman Victor Osimhen has only one goal to show from his team-leading 13 shots and has not been at his clinical best so far at AFCON. However, today he faces a Cameroonian defense who have conceded six goals in three games and have shown to have frailties when put under pressure.
Osimhen has also created 4 chances at AFCON, the most by any Nigeria player
The 3-4-3 system deployed by Peseiro in Nigeria’s last two games has allowed Samuel Chuckwueze, Moses Simon, and Ademola Lookman to offer Osimhen more support up front, and enabled Ola Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel more license to roam forward.
William Troost-Ekong, who scored the decisive penalty in Nigeria’s 1-0 victory against hosts Ivory Coast, and Alhassan Yusuf have also both been declared fit, meaning their full 25-man squad is available for this massive clash.
A win today will be a massive step towards the Super Eagles securing their first AFCON crown since 2013.
The case for Cameroon
The Indomitable Lions endured a rocky path to the knockout rounds. They drew 1-1 with Guinea in their opening game despite the Guineans being a man down the entire second half and were convincingly beaten 3-1 by defending champions Senegal.
They advanced after a dramatic 3-2 comeback win against Gambia courtesy of an 87th-minute James Gomez own-goal and a 91st-minute Christopher Wooh header.
However, despite their underwhelming showing in Group C, the knockout stages pose an entirely different proposition and they will be boosted by the return of captain Vincent Aboubakar.
Aboubakar was the top-scorer at AFCON 2021 with eight goals
Georges-Kévin N’Koudou has also been in fine form, creating the most chances of any player during AFCON (10), while also providing three assists. The return of Aboubakar will give N’Koudou and Karl Toko Ekambi a target up-front.
Cameroun Actuel reported that Nkoudou and Jean-Charles Castelletto did not complete full team training on Friday due to illness. However, both have been mainstays in Rigobert Song’s starting 11 and will likely start against Nigeria.
There remains uncertainty over whether André Onana or his cousin Fabrice Ondoa will start in goal, as Onana was dropped for Cameroon’s crucial clash against Gambia.
Their contrasting goalkeeping styles mean Song’s decision between them could be match-defining.
Onana failed to impress in his only AFCON appearance against Senegal
The quest for continental supremacy ends for one of these mammoth nations tonight in what is the marquee game of the Round of 16.
