Lookman with a Brace as Nigeria Overcomes Cameroon 2-0......

Abidjan -- Nigeria moved into the African Football Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter finals with Ademola Lookman scoring a brace in a 2 - 0 win over Cameroon. Nigeria played a clinical game and remained focused allowing Cameroon to dominate possession but offered the losers few real opportunities. Desperate to measure up, Cameroon made Osimhen suffer several fouls and the increasing desperation led to a caution for Nkoulou who fouled goalie Nwabali in midair. Nwabali, unable to continue, was replaced by goalie Uzoho.

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Desperate to measure up, Cameroon made Osimhen suffer several fouls and the increasing desperation led to a caution for Nkoulou who fouled goalie Nwabali in midair. Nwabali, unable to continue, was replaced by goalie Uzoho.

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The game started with Nigeria indicating its intention. After only eight minutes, Nigeria appeared to go ahead as Ajayi scored during a goalmouth scramble. However, VAR check showed that the goal was scored from offside position and it was correctly ruled out.

However, Nigeria did not relent. It was clear that Nigeria was up for this game and it was only a matter of time before Cameroon would go behind. After 36 minutes,  Osimhen's pressured a defender into a critical error. He then sped past the defender to find Lookman and the latter coolly shot the ball underneath the goalkeeper and trickled into the net passed a desperate defender.

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After 36 minutes, Osimhen's pressured a defender into a critical error. He then sped past the defender to find Lookman and the latter coolly shot the ball underneath the goalkeeper and trickled into the net passed a desperate defender.

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It was a 1 -- 0 lead at interval. In the second half, Nigeria kept providing the more danger especially with Victor Osimhen constituting a nuisance. The fact that the Cameroonian defenders did not earn strings of cautions was indeed a mystery and due to extreme refereeing leniency.  But with the leniency, the desperate defending encourage more dangerous play. After 77 minutes, the leniency forced Nwabali out of the game with an injury. A high ball came into the area and as Nwabali went up to grab it, Nkoulous clattered into him and injuring him. Nwabali had to be taken off.

The injuries and delays forced an additional 10 minutes for injury time. Nigeria, however, scored just before the start of injury time. Again, it was Lookman scoring from a Bassey cross.  Nigeria had won an important game and deservedly so.

 Stanley Nwabali (23) (77th Francis Uzoho (10) -- Semi Ajayi (6), William Ekong (cpt -5), Calvin Bassey (21) -- Ola Aina (2)+ 90+3 (90+5  Bright Osayi-Samuel (12)), Frank Onyeka (8) (90+5  Onyemaechi (12)), Alex Iwobi (17),  Zaidu Sanusi (3) (77th Kenneth Omeruo (22)) --  Ademola Lookman (18), Victor Osimhen (9), Moses Simon (15)+85.

RATINGS:

Stanley Nwabili -- 6.5 -- Stanley was, again, very good. This time he was playing the sweeper role better than we have ever seen a Nigerian goalkeeper as he came out to close the gap between his line and the last defensive man. In addition, he sniffed out few opportunities for the Cameroonians until the latter had he carted off after an airborne collusion.

Semi Ajayi -- 6.5 -- Semi was stable at the back and has been as consistent as ever in the back, winning his duels aerially and on the ground. He had his usual sortie going up. He had what would have been an opening goal ruled off for offside after just 8 minutes.

William Ekong (cpt) -- 6.4 -- Again, Captain calm marshalled the lines and won all his aerial duels.

Calvin Bassey -- 6.4 -- Calvin was very strong on 1 v 1 duel, whether it was on the ground or in the air. In essence, he helped form a strong man wall at the heart of Nigeria's defense.

Ola Aina -- 6.5 -- Ola Aina is having a great AFCON. I believe he should have made the team of the Group rounds. He was that good and consistent. Today, it was the same. He was replaced, for tactical reasons, late after he received a caution in injury time.

Frank Onyeka -- 6.3 -- Onyeka had a strong performance without any frills. He is rapidly becoming the team's enforcer in the middle of the park. Today, he almost goy into a physical confrontation with an opponent after he dished out an opening half tackle.

Alex Iwobi  -- 6.5 -- AS usual, Alex presented himself regularly as an outlet for passes for his team mates. This is almost like a recurring decimal. He is strong and steady in the middle of the park.

Zaidu Sanusi - 6.3 -- Sanusi had a game of two halves. In the opening half, he was quite impressive going forward often and early. However, he gradually faded and was duly replaced by Kenneth Omeruo in the second half.

Ademola Lookman -- 8.0 -- Ademola with a brace is the most valuable player. He took his goals clinically. Ademola, in this AFCON, has imposed himself starting from the first game when his effort level remarkably went up.

Victor Osimhen -- 8.0 -- Victor was the most dangerous player on the Nigeria side. His running is deceptive. He chased a half chance down to dispossess a Cameroonian defender down before assisting on Nigeria's go ahead score. Victor suffered the most fouls in the game as Cameroon struggled mightily to control him.

Moses Simon -- 6.2 -- Moses had a good game on the left. He ended up with a late booking when he had a tackle from behind to stop a Cameroon counter attack,

Kenneth Omeruo -- 6.2 -- Kenneth entered late replacing Sanusi. However, he was steady at the back helping the team to maintain a clean sheet. 

Francis Uzoho -- 6.0 - Francis came in as a substitute for injured Nwabali but had few dangerous moments as his defense provided a good shield. 

Paul Onuachu --  No rating. Few minutes.

Bright Osayi-Samuel (12) -- No rating. Few minutes.