AFCON 2023: Nigeria set to clash with Cameroon in last-16 duel

• Nigeria's Super Eagles will go head-to-head with Cameroon in the last-16 stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
• Cameroon and Nigeria set up their round of 16 date after finishing as runners-up from their respective groups.

The Super Eagles secured their spot in the knockout phase by edging past Guinea-Bissau with a narrow 1-0 victory in their final Group A encounter on Monday.

Despite tallying the same number of wins and draws as Equatorial Guinea, the three-time continental champions settled for the second spot in Group A.

Following their runner-up finish, Nigeria was slated to face the second-placed team from Group C.

In the concluding round of Group C matches on Tuesday, Senegal clinched the top spot with an impressive nine points, courtesy of a 2-0 triumph over Guinea. Abdoulaye Seck and Iliman Ndiaye secured the win with second-half goals.

Meanwhile, Cameroon secured an unexpected turnaround, sealing their second-place finish in Group C with a late surge against Gambia.

Trailing 2-1 by the 85th minute, the Indomitable Lions saw a twist of fate when Gambia's James Gomez inadvertently put through an own goal. Christopher Wooh then delivered a stoppage-time winner, securing a 3-2 victory for the former champions.

This sets the stage for a riveting encounter between Nigeria and Cameroon in the last-16, rekindling memories of their 2019 clash. In that edition, a double from Odion Ighalo and a splendid strike by Alex Iwobi propelled the Super Eagles to a 3-2 triumph.

However, history favours the Indomitable Lions in AFCON encounters, as they emerged victorious against Nigeria in the 1984, 1988, and 2000 finals, clinching gold on each occasion.