There was a period when Cameroon posed a significant threat to Nigeria, especially after the Indomitable Lions emerged victorious against the Super Eagles in the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations final in Lagos. In AFCON finals, Cameroon had previously won all three encounters against Nigeria. However, in recent times, the Super Eagles have seemed to overcome this psychological hurdle, achieving notable victories against their formidable continental rivals.
During the AFCON in 2019, Nigeria secured a 3-2 win over Cameroon in the last-16 stage, showcasing their improvement. In the current year, Nigeria progressed unbeaten through the group phase with seven points and only one goal conceded, while Cameroon narrowly qualified with a thrilling 3-2 comeback against Gambia.
There is a prevailing expectation that Jose Peseiro, the coach of Cameroon, will guide his team to victory against the five-time winners. Super Eagles enthusiast and author JJ Omojuwa believes that the superior quality within the Nigerian squad will be a decisive advantage in the upcoming match. Omojuwa notes that both teams are currently not in top form, but he expresses confidence that Nigeria’s quality will be sufficient to secure victory.
Peseiro, in a press conference, reiterated his commitment to a 3-4-3 formation for the upcoming game, a tactical approach that has led to 1-0 victories in the last two group matches. However, the prevailing sentiment among Nigerian fans, including Omojuwa, is that Peseiro lacks the technical and tactical expertise to manage the national team.
While acknowledging Peseiro’s tactical choices in the tournament so far, Omojuwa emphasizes that the coach’s overall track record before the competition raises concerns. He points out that the Super Eagles’ main challenge lies in their inability to convert chances rather than the coach’s decisions. Despite reservations about Peseiro, Omojuwa believes that if Nigeria can create as many chances as they did in the first game, they have the potential to overcome Cameroon in the knockout match. However, he anticipates a tactical battle and emphasizes that the outcome will ultimately be determined by the teams’ quality, expressing a bias towards Nigeria in that regard.