The Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, delivered a commanding victory securing a 4-0 victory over Mozambique to advance to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals. This marks the 12th time in history Nigeria has reached this stage of the tournament.
The match was highlighted by a dominant attacking performance. Nigeria scored four goals in an AFCON match for the first time in over a decade, dating back to February 2013. For Mozambique, the result was different, as they conceded four goals in an AFCON match for the first time ever.
Ademola Lookman was a central figure in the win, opening the scoring and providing an assist. His performance made him the first player to record four assists in a single AFCON tournament since the legendary Didier Drogba achieved the feat in 2008.
Star striker Victor Osimhen continued his pursuit of history, netting a crucial brace. These goals brought his total for the national team to 35, placing him just three goals away from surpassing the late Rashidi Yekini’s all-time scoring record for Nigeria.
The match was not without a moment of tension, as Osimhen and Lookman were seen in a heated on-pitch discussion during the game. After the final whistle, Lookman moved to clarify the situation, stating, “Nothing happened between Victor Osimhen and me; it was just a discussion on the pitch.”
Head coach Éric Chelle addressed the incident in his post-match comments, choosing to keep the matter within the team. “What happened on the pitch will stay within the group” he said.
The comprehensive victory, aided by a goal and two assists from Akor Adams, provides strong momentum for Nigeria as they prepare for the quarter finals. The Super Eagles will now look to continue their quest for a fourth AFCON title in the quarter-finals.