Nigeria cruise past Mozambique 4-0 to book AFCON quarter-final place

Pius AYINOR

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have booked their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 quarter-final place after thumping Mozambique 4-0 in the last 16.

A goal and two assists from Ademola Lookman, plus a brace from Victor Osimhen, helped Nigeria beat Mozambique.

Big-bodied Akor Adams, like Lookman, registered a goal and two assists. Nigeria will face Algeria or DR Congo in the quarter-final on Saturday in Marrakech.

Akor Adams’ tireless running and unselfish hold-up attacking play were finally rewarded tonight.

After providing assists for both first-half goals, the Sevilla striker hammered in the fourth, his first of the tournament. Many other superb performances rate Adam’s performance as terrific for Nigeria.

Mozambique, making their first appearance in the AFCON knockout stage, struggled to contain Nigeria’s relentless attack and offered little threat going forward.

Nigeria, who could have added more, now await Algeria or DR Congo in Saturday’s quarter-final tie in Marrakech.

Nigeria are looking to go one better than the 2023 edition, where they finished as runners-up to hosts Ivory Coast, and entered the knockout stage in Morocco as one of two sides with a perfect record alongside Algeria.

Nigeria have scored in their last 11 games in the AFCON, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition (since at least 2009-2010).