Ighalo’s goals gave Super Eagles Semi Final ticket at AFCON

Odion Ighalo scored twice as the Super Eagles of Nigeria came from behind to defeat the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon 3-2 in an enthralling 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Round of 16 game at the Alexandria Stadium on Saturday.

Clarence Seedorf-led Cameroon first went ahead at halftime after Christian N’jie and Stephane Bahoken scored in three minutes to give the Indomitable Lions a 2-1 lead at halftime after Ighalo had initially scored for Nigeria. But and Odion Ighalo brace and Alex Iwobi winner was enough to see the Super Eagles soar into the quarter finals of the tournament.

Gernot Rohr made lots of changes to the team that played the last group game against the Barea of Madagascar with Wilfred Ndidi, Kenneth Omeruo, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon all returning to starting lineup – the same starting lineup that defeated Guinea 1-0 in the second Group B game.

Moses Simon tried to get Nigeria’s second, the Bordeaux man tried a little stepover to evade Oyongo but his left footed effort charged down for a routine save by Onana. At Nigeria’s end, Ekong did quite well to head clear Bassogog’s cross.

Nigeria then got better in defending Cameroon’s successive set-piece situations. First, Ndidi headed away Malong’s free kick clear then Awaziem headed Bassogog’s corner away moments later.

Five minutes to the interval, it was a moment of panic in the Nigerian rear. Choupo-Moting returned Oyongo’s cross from the far post, Akpeyi missed it but Ekong’s clearance ricocheted off Omeruo.

In three minutes time, Ighalo turned from goal scorer to provider as he sent pacing Alex Iwobi a  sublime pass, the Arsenal made no mistake as he quickly changed the scoreline to Nigeria 3-2 Cameroon with a cool finish.

With fifteen minutes left to victory for the Super Eagles, Onana denied Ighalo his hattrick with a good save before Chukwueze shot over.

On the other end, Cameroon tried their chance but a huge defensive intervention by Omeruo to poke the ball away after Ekong misjudged kept Nigeria at bay. Omeruo also wins a foul in the process.

Final substitutions by Rohr, Paul Onuachu for Ighalo and Leon Balogun for Alex Iwobi was enough for the Eagles to defend the 3-2 win.

The Super Eagles now having qualified to the next stage of the tournament, await the winner of the game between hosts Egypt and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, for a pulsating quarter finals encounter at the 75000-seater Cairo International Stadium next Wednesday.