We’ve gotten into the business end of the tournament as the round of 16 has started. Nigeria come into the game in a better space having won their last game. Cameroon on the other hand will be hoping for a much improved performance when they take on the Super Eagles.
To win (90 min)
Nigeria 21/20
Draw 7/4
Cameroon 26/10
NIGERIA
Having done enough to make it out of the group into the knockout rounds, the Super Eagles will have all their work cut out for them against Cameroon.
They do have the current African Player of the Year (2023) Victor Osimen leading the attack line and they will need him to start firing if they plan to make it to the quarter-finals. The Napoli hitman has registered a tournament high 13 attempts, across his three group stage fixtures, returning a single goal.
Even the head coach Jose Peseiro knows that it won’t be an easy task when it comes to the knockouts. “It’s a new competition that’s starting for us. The most important part of a competition, the knockout matches. We will have to be more clinical in front of goal because the slightest mistake will be fatal for us”, says Peseiro.
The coach will be sweating on any injuries that the Super Eagles would have. The most recent of which is their captain William Troost-Ekong. Despite this, with stars such as Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho to call upon, it’s hard to imagine a selection crises.
CAMEROON
By hook or by crook, Cameroon advanced to the knockout stages. After a draw on opening day, Rigobert Song’s men were well and truly beaten by Senegal on matchday two, despite Jean-Charles Castelletto striking in the 83rd minute to pull a goal back. At the time it reduced the deficit to 2-1, however, Sadio Mané effectively put an end to the contest deep into stoppage time.
Their third and final group game could not have been more chaotic. The Indominatable Lions struck twice in five minutes to record a come from behind victory agaisnt The Gambia and book their last 16 ticket. Notwithstanding the result, there was a further twist in the tail as Andre Onana was dropped to the bench. Time will tell whether the Manchester United shot-stopper will start on Saturday.
Looking ahead to this one, Song has a formiddable front line who has shown signs of live at Ivory Coast. The challenge: Find a way to get N’Koudou or Ntcham to open their AFCON accounts.
PREDICTION: NIGERIA
If I’m a betting man, you got to go big on the Super Eagles. It’s something about them that just gives you a die-hard type of energy. The team has had injuries to contend with before the start of the tournament but alas, they were able to still progress through. The team will be high on confidence after the efforts they’ve made in their last game.
Written by Lilitha Bodlani