‘We came up against a strong opponent with very pragmatic attackers’: Conde admits Nigeria’s efficiency too much for Mozambique

Mozambique coach Chiquinho Conde admitted his side were overwhelmed by Nigeria’s ruthless efficiency after the Super Eagles stormed into the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 4–0 victory in Fès.

‘It was an extremely difficult match. We knew we would face challenges, but perhaps not of this magnitude,’ Conde said at the post match presser.

‘We came up against a strong opponent with very pragmatic attackers. From the opening minutes, we struggled to retain possession, and the players responsible for controlling the game were unable to perform at their usual level. I would like to congratulate the Nigerian team, who showed their full strength. These are lessons we must learn from as we continue to grow.’

Nigeria’s intent was clear from the start. Victor Osimhen thought he had given his side the lead inside two minutes, only for VAR to rule the effort out for offside. The warning shot set the tone, as the Super Eagles pressed with confidence and control.

Ademola Lookman broke the deadlock in the 20th minute with a calm finish, before Osimhen doubled the advantage five minutes later. By half-time, Nigeria’s dominance was unquestionable.

There was no respite for Mozambique after the restart. Lookman turned provider in the 47th minute, setting up Osimhen to complete his brace and effectively end the contest. Mozambique’s danger man Geny Catamo was kept quiet by a disciplined Nigerian defence, marshalled superbly by Calvin Bassey.

Nigeria added further gloss in the 70th minute when Akor Adams struck the fourth, having already contributed two assists. It capped a commanding display that underlined the Super Eagles’ attacking depth and efficiency, with seven different players now on the scoresheet across their first four games.

For Mozambique, the fairytale run ended with a harsh lesson in the realities of top-level competition.