In a showdown at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium on Saturday, Nigeria and Cameroon are set to reignite their rivalry in the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations.

After securing the second spot in Group A, the Super Eagles are gearing up to face Rigobert Song’s squad, who clinched their spot in the knockout stage with a late comeback victory against The Gambia in Group C.

Nigeria’s path to the round of 16 was marked by a lackluster performance in their final group stage match against winless Guinea-Bissau. Despite the underwhelming display, Jose Peseiro’s side managed to secure a win, accumulating seven points and securing a spot in the knockout stage as the second qualifier from their group.

One of the major concerns for the Super Eagles has been their struggle to find the back of the net at AFCON 2023. Despite leading the tournament in chances created with 13 clear-cut opportunities, they have only managed to score three goals. Notably, Victor Osimhen, the African Footballer of the Year, has faced criticism for his subpar finishing, particularly in matches against Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Guinea-Bissau. His performance has led to scrutiny, with the assessment that his expected goals underperformance is the worst among all the participants at the continental showpiece.

The stage is set for an intense encounter as both teams aim to secure a spot in the quarterfinals, and fans are eagerly anticipating another chapter in the historic rivalry between Nigeria and Cameroon.