AMAZING FACTS – Take Aways In The Nigeria -Cameroon Afcon Round Of 16 Duel –

Published

6 months ago

January 26, 2024

AMAZING FACTS – Take Aways In The Nigeria -Cameroon Afcon Round Of 16 Duel -

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

The Round of 16 pairings of the Africa Cup of Nations have thrown up intriguing fixtures. Most of the eight matches are potentially explosive.

Nigeria are paired with their familiar opponents, Cameroon in what is potentially an explosive encounter especially if previous encounters are to be considered.

As usual, www.sportsvillagesquare.com takes an insightful look at the match and comes out with the following points of interest.

Sports Village Square records that this is the second time both are meeting at the Afcon Round of 16 after similar pairing at the Egypt 2019 edition. But overall, it the eighth time both are meeting at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The stadium where they are meeting on Saturday was the same venue when they first met at Afcon 40 years ago.
Overall, Saturday’s match will be the 25^th clash of both Nigeria and Cameroon. Sports Village Square can confirm that in spite of the intimidating stature of the Indomitable Lions, results have always been in Nigeria’s favour. In 24 matches, Nigeria won 13 times as against four clear victories by Cameroon. The remaining seven were drawn – including the 13 February 2000 Africa Cup final in which penalty kicks were used as tie-breaker.

The match will be Nigeria’s 101^st match in Africa Cup of Nations’ history since the 6-3 loss to Egypt on 24 November 1963 in Kumasi, Ghana.

The Saturday encounter marks Cameroon’s95^th match, even though the country have made two more Afcon appearances than Nigeria’s 20^th at the Cote d’Ivoire 2023

Both Nigeria and Cameroon led their respective Egypt 2019 groups until their last matches. While Nigeria surrendered Group B leadership to Madagascar, Cameroonalso failed to live up to expectations and were held to a goalless draw by lower rated Benin, thus surrendering Group F leadership to rivals, Ghana. At Cote d’Ivoire 2023, both teams laboured to place second in their respective groups.

The two teams have experienced goal drought. Nigeria scored a goal in each of their three matches. Cameroon had a goal in each of their first two matches before being able to record a late 3-2 win over The Gambia.

Nigeria’s legendary Muda Lawal scored the last of his 11 goals for Nigeria in a match with Cameroon in the final match of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations.

When Cameroon won a friendly encounter in Austria on 4 June 2021 by a single goal, a 32-year jinx was broken as Cameroon last defeated Nigeria within regulation time on 27 August 1989 in Yaounde.

Erstwhile Super Eagles goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa made his international debut in a World Cup qualifying match with Cameroon in September 2017.

It is 35years since Cameroon ever beat Nigeria in regulation time of a competitive match. It was a World Cup qualifying match for Italia ’90 – a tie in which Nigeria needed just a draw to advance to the last straight knockout qualifying duel.

Legendary goalkeeper, Emmanuel Okala last featured for Nigeria’s national team in a match with Cameroon on February 2, 1980 at the then Liberty Stadium, Ibadan. The match ended goalless.

The Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan hosted its first international match when Nigeria beat Cameroon 2-0 on June 10, 1989 in a World Cup qualifying encounter.

Cameroon’s first three in five titles of the Africa Cup of Nations were achieved beating Nigeria in 1984, 1988 and 2000.

Cameroon has never beaten Nigeria in any other Africa Cup of Nations’ duel apart from the final match. There are three instances; in 1988, both played 1-1 in group match, in 1992 Nigeria beat Cameroon 2-1 in the classification match while also achieving the same result at the quarterfinals of the 2004 edition.At the 2019 edition, Nigeria beat Cameroon 3-2 at the Round of 16.

Nigeria’s Josiah Dombraiye was the first scorer at Cameroon’s Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé when the arena was commissioned on February 13, 1972. Nigeria won 2-1, courtesy of the brace by Dombraiye.

The most pronounced of Nigeria versus Cameroon encounters is the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations’ final match, which ended in penalty shootout that Nigeria controversially lost. The turning point was Victor Ikpeba’s penalty kick, which was thought not to have crossed the goal line. Several television clips showed it was a goal. Even Ikpeba’s reaction also added to the drama as he held his hands on his head in anguish after the kick. If VAR had been in existence then, the final outcome of the 2000 final could have been different.

Samuel Okwaraji’s only goal for Nigeria was scored against Cameroon on March 17, 1988 in Rabat Morocco. It was also Nigeria’s joint fastest Africa Cup of Nations goal, coming in the second minute, just like that of Segun Odegbami against Algeria in 1980.

Nigeria vs. Cameroon: Head-to-Head

	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD
Nigeria	24	13	7	4	36	18	+18
Cameroon	24	4	7	13	19	36	-18

26 Apr. 1960 (F-Lome) Cameroon 0-0 Nigeria
8 Dec.1962 (Nkrumah Cup – Lagos) Nigeria 3-1 Cameroon
1 Jan.1963 (Nkrumah- Yaounde) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
20 July 1966 (F- Fanando Po) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
1968 (WCq- Lagos) Nigeria 1-1Cameroon
22 Dec.1968 (WCq – Yaounde) Cameroon 2-3 Nigeria
13 Feb.1972 (F- Yaounde) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
22 Jan. 1975 (F – Lagos) Nigeria 1-0 Cameroon
2 Feb. 1980 (F- Ibadan) Nigeria 0 -0 Cameroon
18 Mar.1984 (Afcon – Abidjan) Cameroon 3-1 Nigeria
17 Mar. 1988(Afcon – Rabat Cameroon 1-1Nigeria
27 Mar.1988 (Afcon – Casablanca) Cameroon 1-0 Nigeria
10 June1989 (WCq- Ibadan) Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon
1989 (WCq – Yaounde) Cameroon 1-0 Nigeria
25 Jan.1992 (Afcon – Dakar) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
1997 (LG Cup – Tunis) Cameroon 0-1 Nigeria
13 .Feb. 2000 (Afcon- Lagos) Nigeria 2-2 Cameroon *(3-4 pso).
1 June2003 (LG Cup- Lagos) Nigeria 3-0 Cameroon *aet
8 Feb.2004 (Afcon – Monastir) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
11 Oct. 2015 (F-Vise, Belgium) Cameroon 0-3 Nigeria
2017 (WCq – Uyo) Nigeria 4-0 Cameroon
4 Sep. 2017 (WCq – Yaounde) Cameroon 1-1 Nigeria
4 Jun. 2021 (F- Wiener Neustadt, Austria) Cameroon 1-0 Nigeria
8 June 2021 (F- Wiener Neustadt, Austria) Cameroon 0-0 Nigeria

Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 fixtures almost in same pattern with World Cup qualifiers

Published

2 weeks ago

July 12, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Confederation of African Football (CAF) has now released the full fixtures of the qualifying series for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The fixtures for the Nigerian team is almost in the same pattern with that of the 2026 World Cup qualification which has seen the Super Eagles wobbling.

Like that of the World Cup, the Super Eagles will begin their quest for qualifcation for AFCON with a home game in Uyo as they will host Benin Republic.

As it was in the World Cup, they will then head to Rwanda. Last November, their second match was played in Rwanda which hosted Zimbabwe home match. This time the Super Eagles will be facing Rwanda, the same team they will meet when the World Cup qualification series resume in March next year.

On Match Day 3, the Super Eagles will host Libya and will have the reverse fixture immediately after that of Match Day 3.

Later they travel to Benin for Match Day 5 before hosting Rwanda on the last match day.

The Fixtures

September 2 – Nigeria vs Benin Republic; Libya vs Rwanda

September 6 – Rwanda vs Nigeria; Benin Republic vs Libya

October 11 – Nigeria vs Libya; Benin Republic vs Rwanda

October 16 – Libya vs Nigeria; Rwanda vs Benin Republic

November 11 – Benin Republic vs Nigeria; Rwanda vs Libya

November 15 – Nigeria vs Rwanda; Libya vs Benin Republic

The top two teams qualify for AFCON 2025

AFCON

Rohr roars warning to Benin; Nigeria, Rwanda will not be easy

Published

3 weeks ago

July 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Former Nigeria manager, Gernot Rohr now handling Benin Republic has warned The Cheetahs of Benin not to expect an easy match when the team meet Rwanda and Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers later this month.

Last month, he led his team to defeat both Rwanda and Nigeria in World Cup qualifying duels in Abidjan, where Benin Republic are compelled to play their home matches following inadequate facilities at home.

Benin’s 1-0 defeat of Rwanda was Rohr’s first victory with the team. Days later, he followed up with a 2-1 defeat of Nigeria, the first Benin Republic victory in over 65 years.

Those wins have put Benin in the frame of possible qualification for the World Cup. They are now to meet Nigeria and Rwanda again in World Cup qualifiers.

It won’t be easy, remarked Rohr. Hear the Franco-German as he spoke in French but translated into English for the Sports Village Square: “From September we will play against Nigeria before facing Libya and Rwanda.

“These are three difficult opponents. We had already played Rwanda and Nigeria but be careful, it’s not because we won Rwanda and Nigeria that it will be easy matches.

“ We know that it is possible to achieve good performances again. We know that Nigeria with its great players will want to take revenge against us.

“ I think it will probably be an interesting match in Uyo before continuing against Libya. I suppose in Abidjan because in September the Mathieu Kerekou friendship stadium will not be ready.

“Everything will be decided in three months in September, October and November. It’s a difficult group but it’s playable.

“You have to finish in the top two. We had a team that is becoming solid, where the players are like brothers, accomplices. I hope we will recover the players who were absent. We are confident.”

AFCON

Coaches react after intriguing Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers Draw

Published

3 weeks ago

July 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The journey towards qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 shifted a gear higher on Thursday, after CAF officially conducted the draw of the qualifiers in Johannesburg South Africa.

A total of 48 nations will vie for the 24 places that will contests the 35th edition of Africa’s most prestigious competition.

This is what some of the coaches has to say in reaction to the draw outcomes.

Emerse Fae, Cote d’Ivoire coach

“I am satisfied because we are going to play against Zambia, a team that we know very well. In our last qualifying campaign, we lost against them. We know what mistakes to avoid.

“I am also satisfied because I did not want to have countries geographically far from Cote d’Ivoire which will lessen the travel load. That said, in Africa, there are no longer small teams. All the teams will want to challenge us because we are the reigning champions”

Leslie Notši

“The draw is very interesting because when you have the host in your group, it means they qualify automatically for the tournament, and you have to double your efforts to secure the remaining qualification spot which will be contested by the three other teams in the group.

“We will work very hard to see to it that we are competitive side and try as much as we can to get maximum points in matches against countries that are with us in our group. It will be very important to do well in our home games and I know all eyes will be on “Morocco as the hosts and a powerhouse in our group. We will draw inspiration from recent games where we played the likes of Nigeria as well as Cote d’voire and were able to frustrate them”

Amir Abdou, Mauritania Coach

“Quite a complicated draw. Egypt will be the big contender for qualification. They have a good track record that speaks volumes.

“Seven times African champions – that’s no small thing. We also have Cape Verde who eliminated us during the last AFCON.

“This team is made up of many quality players. We have Botswana, they are having a good qualifying campaign for the World Cup. We have a pretty strong group. It’s up to us to believe in ourselves. We will do everything we can to achieve our fourth participation in the AFCON”.

Kévin Nicaise, Chad coach

“We are already having the reigning African champions facing the last qualified team in the FIFA rankings. These will definitely be very difficult matches played at high intensity. We will fight to defend our nation’s pride. The group remains relatively open, and we will approach these qualifications with humility and ambition”.

Badou Zaki, Niger coach

“We have every chance of qualifying. For me, Ghana is a football country with a team that is blessed with great professionals. But this is not the team of 5 or 6 years ago. Even at home, they can lose.

“Angola had a good showing at the last AFCON with their beautiful, modern and fast football. It’s a team that shook up the big teams in Cote d’Ivoire.

“I know Sudan very well. They are first in their World Cup qualifying group. They are going to be dangerous, but we know our strengths and we know we can go far”

-CAF