File photo of Nigerian players jubilating
Nigeria swept into the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) with a commanding 4-0 victory over Mozambique in Fes.
The Super Eagles were on top from the off, and talisman Victor Osimhen had an effort ruled out for offside within the first two minutes.
Their pressure eventually told in the 20th minute as Ademola Lookman curled home from Akor Adams’ cutback to break the deadlock.
Five minutes later, Osimhen doubled the advantage, turning in after Alex Iwobi’s incisive play through midfield released Lookman and his ball across took a deflection off Adams.
Mozambique, making their first appearance in the knockout stage, struggled to contain Nigeria’s relentless attack and offered little threat going forward.
Osimhen made it 3-0 early in the second half, tapping in from Lookman’s clever ball across from the left at the back post to score his second of the night.
Adams then capped a fine individual display, firing in Nigeria’s fourth in the 75th minute after more good work by Lookman.
Nigeria, who could have added more, now await Algeria or DR Congo in Saturday’s quarter-final tie in Marrakech (16:00 GMT).
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.
Yet the last time the three-time champions started an Afcon so well, in 2021, they exited in the last 16 against Tunisia.
Eric Chelle’s side managed to survive that fate against Mozambique as they put in a performance which underlined their credentials as a challenger for the trophy, becoming the first side to score four goals in a game at this year’s edition of the finals.
Iwobi was a hub of creativity, Lookman and Adams were full of invention as they terrorised the Mozambique defence, and Galatasaray front man Osimhen will have boosted his confidence with two goals from close range.
Nigeria continued to pour forward in search of more goals, and Mambas goalkeeper Ernan was kept busy before being forced off with injury in the closing stages.
A first clean sheet in six outings at the finals – having conceded four times in the group stage – will also be a point of pride for the West Africans before their last-eight tie.
Yet Nigeria’s performance so far at this tournament may not be enough to atone for the disappointment felt by their fans for the team’s failure to deliver qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
The Super Eagles may yet get the chance to gain revenge over DR Congo, who beat them on penalties in the continent’s play-off final in November, while a meeting with Algeria will see a repeat of the Afcon 2019 semi-final, which the North Africans won.
