AFCON 2019
Nigeria 3-2 Cameroon
Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria
Saturday, 06-07-2019
Nigeria produced a stunning comeback to dump defending champions Cameroon out of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
After Odion Ighalo put Nigeria ahead, Stephane Bahoken and Clinton Njie handed the 2017 champions a halftime lead.
However two goals in three minutes by Ighalo and Alex Iwobi saw the Super Eagles edge the thriller 3-2 and in the end, storm the last 8 of the competition.
Nigeria who came into the game off a 0-2 loss to Madagascar in their last group fixture, started slowly and never looked like taking the lead.
But as luck would have it, Ighalo gave them a surprise lead after his first-time side footed shot was deflected into the bottom left corner.
With four minutes to the break, Christain Bassogog expertly found Bahoken to strike the equalizing goal, against the run of play.
An eventful first half was capped with a second goal for the Indomitable Lions as N’jie ran through on goal and neatly slotted in past the onrushing Daniel Akpeyi.
On 66 minutes, Ighalo scored his third of the tournament with a volley off Ahmed Musa’s chest down.
Oghalo then turned provider, assisting Iwobi’s decisive goal in a contest that will go down as one of the most thrilling at AFCON 2019.
Nigeria march on to the quarter finals where they will face the winner between Egypt and South Africa, who play later on Saturday.
It was a contest that truly lived up to the billing as two continental heavyweight clashed.
This was arguably the two sides’ best performance in the tournament and Nigeria will hope they can replicate it in the next round.
For Cameroon, it is a disappointment for the 5 time winners and it remains to be seen whether head coach Clarence Seedorf will remain at the helm.
The other game on Saturday
-Egypt vs South Africa
Sunday’s fixtures
-Madagascar vs DR Congo @7pm
-Algeria vs Guinea @10pm
