2023 AFCON: Nigeria v Cameroon preview

Moses Daddy Simon of Nigeria scores a goal during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations mach between Guinea Bissau and Nigeria held at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on 22 January 2024 ©Weam Mostafa/BackpagePix

by Thando Mpembe

Friday Jan 26, 2024. 12:00

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will continue with a Round of 16 match between Nigeria and Cameroon at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.

Date: Saturday 27 January 2024

Kick-off: 22h00 CAT

Head-to-head: Nigeria and Cameroon have met in 25 matches dating back as far as 1960. The Super Eagles have claimed 12 wins compared to five for the Indomitable Lions, while eight games have been drawn. The teams’ most recent meeting was a friendly in June 2021 which ended in a goalless stalemate.

Nigeria’s last three results: Nigeria put up a solid but unspectacular showing through the group stage, starting off with a 1-1 draw against eventual Group A winners Equatorial Guinea, and following it up with hard-fought 1-0 wins over host nation Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau. That the Super Eagles scored just three goals will be of concern to coach Jose Peseiro.

Cameroon’s last three results: Cameroon had to scramble somewhat to progress as the second-place finisher in Group C. They managed just one point from their opening two matches (1-1 draw with Guinea and 3-1 loss to Senegal) before a come-from-behind 3-2 triumph against the Gambia in which late goals flipped the Indomitable Lions’ fate from elimination to progression.

Team news: Nigeria are likely to have defender William Troost-Ekong back from injury after he missed their win over Guinea-Bissau. Cameroon, meanwhile, continue to have a wrangle over the goalkeeper position, with Andre Onana dropped for their crucial win over Gambia in midweek.

Key players, Nigeria: Victor Osimhen remains the Super Eagles’ most potent weapon, but he’ll need greater supply from the likes of Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze to have the necessary impact against Cameroon.

Key players, Cameroon: Georges-Kevin N’Koudou put up an excellent showing against the Gambia and will be hoping to carry that form into this match, while Cameroon will also look to Karl Toko Ekambi and Frank Magri to threaten Nigeria’s defence.