AFCON 2023: Supercomputer tips Nigeria to beat Cameroon inside 90 minutes

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been predicted to beat the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and advance to the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON 2023, quarter-finals by the Opta supercomputer, with the Super Eagles winning inside 90 minutes in 45.9% of simulations before kick-off, according to Opta analysts.

Nigeria will face Cameroon in the second round of 16 match of the day after the battle of the underdogs between Angola and Namibia earlier in the day.

The blockburster, mouthwatering game between the two eternal rivals has been the AFCON final three times previously (1984, 1988 and 2000) and Nigeria and Cameroon are 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.

Cameroon won two of their first three Africa Cup of Nations matches against Nigeria but have since lost three of their last four.

In fact, since losing the 2000 AFCON final to Cameroon as host nation (4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw), Nigeria have won both of their meetings with the Indomitable Lions at AFCON.

A 2-1 quarter-final victory in 2004 was followed by a 3-2 win over Cameroon at the 2019 tournament in the round of 16.

Their last international meetings came in a June 2021 friendly double-header across 4 June and 8 June. Cameroon won the first match 1-0 thanks to a goal via
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa before a 0-0 draw in the second game.

This will be the eighth meeting between Nigeria and Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The match will hold at the 45,000-capacity Stade Félix-Houphouët-Boignyin Abidjan and it will be the second time Nigeria will be playing Cameroon at the same stadium.

The first time was 40 years when Cameroon won its first AFCON title, beating Nigeria in the final 3−1 courtesy of goals from René Brice N’Djeya, Théophile Abega and Érnest-Lottin Ebongué.

Nigeria scored first in the game with Muda Lawal netting as early as the 10th minute of the game.