Victor Osimhen scored twice as Nigeria swept aside Mozambique 4-0 on Monday to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a commanding last-16 performance.
Ademola Lookman set the tone in Fes, opening the scoring after 20 minutes before playing a decisive role in all four goals. The former African Footballer of the Year winner was at the heart of Nigeria’s attack throughout a one-sided contest.
Osimhen began the match without his trademark protective mask but put it back on before doubling Nigeria’s lead five minutes after Lookman’s opener. The striker added his second just after half-time, effectively ending the contest, before Akor Adams completed the rout late on.
The victory represents the biggest winning margin in an AFCON knockout match since Egypt’s 4-0 demolition of Algeria in the semi-finals of the 2010 tournament in Angola.
Eager to atone for their failure to qualify for the World Cup, the Super Eagles now advance to a quarter-final in Marrakesh on Saturday, where they will face either Algeria or the Democratic Republic of Congo. Those sides meet in the last 16 on Tuesday, with a DR Congo win offering Nigeria the chance to avenge their penalty shootout defeat to the Leopards in a World Cup qualifying play-off last November.
Mozambique, appearing in the knockout stages of the AFCON for the first time after progressing as one of the best third-placed teams, were no match for a Nigerian side that reintroduced several key players following a rotated line-up in the group-stage win over Uganda.
Lookman, recalled after scoring in the 3-2 victory over Tunisia, gave Nigeria the lead when Alex Iwobi’s incisive pass released Adams down the left, whose cutback was finished first time by the Atalanta forward.
Five minutes later, Lookman turned provider, his cross from the left glanced on by Adams for Osimhen to prod home from close range. The Galatasaray striker shrugged off a heavy challenge from Witi soon after, despite being kneed in the stomach.
Any hope of a Mozambique recovery was extinguished two minutes into the second half when Osimhen swept in Lookman’s low cross to make it 3-0. The 2023 African Player of the Year, who had gone seven AFCON matches without scoring before finding the net against Tunisia, now has three goals at the tournament in Morocco.
Lookman capped a superb display by setting up Adams with 15 minutes remaining, the Sevilla forward rifling a high finish into the net to complete a dominant Nigerian performance.
AFP
