Nigeria qualified to the African Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a dramatic 3-2 victory over defending champions Cameroon at Alexandria Stadium on Saturday.

Both sides were looking to get out of their blocks early but it was Nigeria who drew first blood in the 19th minute.

Odion Ighalo’s effort in the box bounced off the legs of Yaya Banana and trickled into the net past Andre Onana.

Musa was looking dangerous and in the 38th minute, he skipped past his marker on the left wing and tried to cut inside past Ngadeu, but the burly Cameroonian defender halted his progress with a well-timed tackle.

The Indomitable Lions were not going down without a fight and kept putting pressure on Nigeria. They were rewarded with an equaliser in the 41st minute. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting passed the ball to Christian Bassogog on the left flank, who crossed in to the box with Stephane Bahoken getting in past an unaware Omeruo to direct the ball in to the back of the net.

Clinton N’Jie put Cameroon ahead 2 minutes later with a well executed finish past Daniel Akpeyi.

There was still time in the first half for the Super Eagles to almost level matters. Wilfred Ndidi played Moses Simon in to space down the right-hand side of the box, who cut inside on his left but could not hit the target.

But the Super Eagles fought their way back in to the game in similar fashion with 2 goals in 3 minutes.

Ighalo completed his brace in the 63rd minute before he played in Iwobi for what would turn out to be a winner by Arsenal forward.

Nigeria held on to record another famous win over Cameroon and progress to the quarterfinals to meet either Egypt or South Africa.

Kelvin Trudeau Musako

Football Journalist | TotalEnergies AFCON 2021 Photographer | Media Officer - Kabwe Warriors FC | Graphic Designer | Videographer