AFCON 2023: Nigeria’s Round of 16 Opponent Confirmed After Group C Wraps Up

AFCON 2023: Nigeria’s Round of 16 Opponent Confirmed After Group C Wraps Up

Raphael Abiola
updated at February 13, 2024 at 11:54 AM
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  • Nigeria have confirmed their next opponent at the ongoing 2023 AFCON
  • The Super Eagles face the second-placed Group C team in the knockouts
  • The three-time champions finished behind Equatorial Guinea in Group A

Nigeria's opponent for the Round of 16 at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast has been confirmed after Group C wrapped up its final games.

The Super Eagles finished second in Group A ahead of the host nation, Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau but ceded first place in the group to Equatorial Guinea.

After Senegal's win over Guinea and Cameroon's hard-fought victory over Gambia, the decision has been made as to who Nigeria will take on in the knockouts.

Nigeria players celebrate after their first goal during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations group stage match against Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria players celebrate after their first goal during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations group stage match against Guinea-Bissau. Photo: MB Media.
Source: Getty Images

The three-time African champions will face Cameroon in the next round of the competition after the Indomitable Lions finished second ahead of Guinea on goal difference.

Cameroon and Guinea finished with four points apiece, but the 2017 champions scored five goals compared to two goals by the Syli National, according to CAF Online.

Cameroon were close to being knocked out of the competition, but a late goal from Christopher Wooh sealed a 3-2 win for Rigobert Song's side.

The Round of 16 clash will be a repeat of their 2019 AFCON quarter-final, where Nigeria went 2-1 down only to beat the Indomitable Lions 3-2.

Alex Iwobi, who was one of the scorers in the game five years ago, will surely relish another game against the five-time African champions.

Dosu makes AFCON 2023 prediction

Sports Brief also previously reported on former Nigerian international, Dosu Joseph dropping his AFCON prediction as the group stages conclude.

The Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold medalist showed support for his country, backing them to win this edition of Africa's biggest football competition.

The 50-year-old former goalkeeper also believes Napoli and Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen will be named the top player of the tournament.

Authors
Raphael Abiola photo
Raphael Abiola
Raphael Abiola is a Nigerian Sports Journalist with over five years of experience. He obtained a B.Tech degree in Computer Science from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, in 2015.