FES, Morocco — Ademola Lookman’s opening goal, Victor Osimhen’s brace and a strong late shot from Akole Adams helped Nigeria win 4-0 in a rain-soaked Fez on Monday, defeating Mozambique and advancing to the African Cup of Nations quarterfinals.
The Super Eagles now travel to Marrakech for a last-eight match against either Algeria or the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Saturday before facing Rabat on Tuesday.
Lookman gave Nigeria the lead in the 20th minute by converting Adams’ cross into the top of the net, and Osimhem extended the lead five minutes later with a close-range shot.
The Galatasaray striker added a second goal early in the second half to lead Eric Schell’s side to a comfortable victory.
Editor’s picks
2 Related
The standout Adams added his fourth goal, tying the Eagles’ most goals scored in a single AFCON season (12 when they were runners-up in 2000) and making clear their intentions to win the title.
Nigeria’s performance was full of ingenuity, with their brimming creativity and attacking prowess the highlight of the group stage, as they advanced to the finals as the tournament’s top scorers.
The match was one-sided from the start, with Semi Ajayi attempting to repeat his opening goal against Tanzania with a downward header off Lookman’s corner kick, before Bruno Langa cleared his line in the sixth minute.
Nigeria didn’t have to wait long and Alex Iwobi showed his creative influence and passing ability and became a key part of this Eagles side, threading the ball through Adams in the 20th minute to advance down Nigeria’s left flank.
The Sevilla FC forward crossed for Lookman and beat Hernan Siluane in the Mozambique goal with a finish that inspired the former African Player of the Year.
Lookman then turned into a creator for Nigeria’s second team. The Super Eagles once again took advantage of Mozambique’s right flank, with Atalanta’s forwards crossing from the left. His ball narrowly hit the advancing Adams and Osimhen slotted it home at the back post, with the three-time African champions firmly in control of the game.
They could have added to their tally before half-time, as Adams’ shot was pushed away by Siluan and the rebound was swatted away by Wilfred Ndidi, and in the 35th minute Nigeria’s free-kick was spilled to Iwobi on the edge of the box, who sent a climbing shot over the bar.
Adams could have added to his first goal of the tournament by taking advantage of a fortuitous rebound to beat Lenild Mandaba just before the break, but his shot went wide of the post and wasted a chance to decide the game.
As soon as the second half started, it was over. Mozambique made a change at right-back, bringing on Nanani for Diogo Carrila, which may have left them vulnerable from the kick-off. Osimhen touched home for the opening goal in the 47th minute after Lookman charged down Nigeria’s left flank and his cross deflected past Siluan.
Nigeria had more chances to score as the first half progressed, with Lookman popping up all over the place to create chances, and in the 57th minute, Mozambique couldn’t clear their line and he himself put a shot on target.
Adams’ curling shot prompted a dramatic one-handed save from Siluan in the 64th minute, and moments later the 25-year-old took a feed from Lookman on Mozambique’s left flank and fired a right-footed shot past the local stopper, who was now in trouble with his right foot.
With Siluan sent off, presumably for a knock, his replacement Ivane Urubalu came on to make a late block from Moses Simon, but fellow substitute Rafael Onyedika missed a chance to follow up his brace against Uganda with a shot in the 88th minute.
Simon and Onyedika were among the new faces brought in as Shell rested players and rotated their squad ahead of Saturday’s quarter-finals, with even Osimhen and Lookman’s on-field encounters unable to contain a near-perfect knockout performance from this domineering Eagles side.
