AFCON 2023: Nigeria seeking 24th record extending AFCON knockout phase wins
The Super Eagles will be seeking a record extending 24th win in the knockout phase of the Africa Cup of Nations when they take on Cameroun on Saturday in the round of 16 tie of the AFCON 2023.
The Nigerians (43) may be playing second fiddle to Egypt (44) in the number of knockout matches they have featured in at the tournament but the Super Eagles have more knockout-stage wins than any other nation in the history of the tournament (23).
Saturday’s fixture (Nigeria Vs Cameroun) at the Stade Félix – Houphouët – Boigny in Abidjan has been the AFCON final three times previously (1984, 1988 and 2000).
The two nations are now set to face each other at the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since doing so at this stage in 2019, with the Super Eagles winning 3-2 with goals from Odion Ighalo (2) and Alex Iwobi.
Interestingly, while Cameroon won two of their first three Africa Cup of Nations matches against Nigeria, they have since lost three of their last four against the Super Eagles.
In fact, the Indomitable Lions have only lost more AFCON matches against Egypt (4) than they have against Nigeria (3).
The Super Eagles have now reached the knockout stage of a 15th consecutive Africa Cup of Nations tournament following their advancement from Group A after Jose Peseiro’s men could only manage second place finish on goal difference behind ‘minnows’ Equatorial Guinea.
However, they have been eliminated in their last two knockout ties (2019 semi-finals, 2021 last 16) after winning four in a row beforehand. This excludes third-place play-off matches.
