Victor Osimhen scored twice as the Super Eagles delivered a commanding performance to defeat Mozambique 4–0 and secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday.
Nigeria took control of the last-16 encounter early in the game, with Ademola Lookman opening the scoring in the 20th minute at the stadium in Fes.
The Atalanta forward finished calmly after meeting a low cutback from Akor Adams, following a well-timed through pass from Alex Iwobi.
Five minutes later, Lookman turned provider again as his cross from the left was nodded into the path of Osimhen, who poked home Nigeria’s second goal at close range.
The Galatasaray striker, who started the match without his trademark protective mask, later put it back on before finding the net.
Osimhen struck again shortly after the restart to effectively end the contest. Lookman once more caused problems down the left flank, sending in a low ball across the face of goal which Osimhen converted to make it 3–0 in the 47th minute.
The Super Eagles maintained their dominance and added a fourth goal with 15 minutes remaining. Lookman supplied Adams inside the box, and the Sevilla forward rifled a powerful shot into the roof of the net to complete the rout.
The victory marked Nigeria’s biggest winning margin in an AFCON knockout match since Egypt’s 4–0 win over Algeria at the 2010 tournament. It also extended Osimhen’s scoring tally at the competition to three goals, after he had gone seven matches without scoring at the finals before the group stage.
Nigeria will now face either Algeria or the Democratic Republic of Congo in the quarter-finals on Saturday in Marrakesh, as the Super Eagles continue their push to make amends for their failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Mozambique, appearing in the knockout phase of the tournament for the first time, struggled to cope with Nigeria’s intensity and attacking quality, as the Super Eagles cruised through with authority.
(AFP
