The Super Eagles of Nigeria have booked their spot in the last eight of the ongoing AFCON in Morocco after a dominant performance in a 4-0 win over the Mambas of Mozambique on Monday night, www.aclsports.com reports.
In the round of 16 fixture decided in Fes, two goals in five minutes from Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen in the first half had the Super Eagles on their way. More goals in the second half from Osimhen and Akor Adams helped the Eagles seal progression.
After a perfect group stage performance, the Super Eagles returned to the Fes Stadium for this round of 16 clash with Mozambique on Monday night.
Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, named the same starting line-up from the Tunisia game for this crucial encounter. Ademola Lookman, Frank Onyeka, Stanley Nwabali, Akor Adams, and others all returned to start against the Mambas in Fes.
Nigeria, who have made strong starts in the tournament, thought they had taken the lead when Victor Osimhen turned a cross from Frank Onyeka home, but it was rightly ruled out for offside. Not bothered by that, the Super Eagles went close through Semi Ajayi, but his goal-bound effort was cleared on the line.
With the lion’s share of the ball possession, the three-time AFCON winners continued to stay patient, as the Mambas could not leave their own half. In the 20th minute, the Eagles went in front deservedly. Alex Iwobi’s line-breaking pass found Adams, who then set up Lookman to finish brilliantly.
Moments, Iwobi did the magic again as Nigeria extended their lead. The Fulham man’s pass found Lookman in the final third, and the latter’s cross was flicked by Adams to the path of Osimhen for a simple finish in the 25th minute.
Just a minute after the restart, Lookman set up Osimhen for another simple finish to complete his brace. Nigeria could have added more with Mozambique goalkeeper Alberto Siluane, with some brilliant stops to deny a couple of attempts from Nigeria.
However, Adams, who has had a brilliant run in the tournament, fired into the roof of the net 15 minutes from time for his first AFCON goal. That was the last goal of the game as the Super Eagles marched into the last eight once again.
The Super Eagles will now head to the beautiful city of Marrakesh for their quarterfinal fixture against the winner of the round of 16 game between Algeria and DR Congo on Saturday.
