AFCON 2023: Moses Simon Sends Warning to Cameroon As Nigeria Gears Up for Last 16 Clash

• Moses Simon has sent a warning to opponents, Cameroon ahead of their AFCON 2023 clash
• The Nigeria forward believes the Indomitable Lions’ physical game will not be an advantage
• The two teams face off in the last 16 on January 26, at the Félix Houphouët Boigny Stadium

In the build-up to their crucial Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 clash, Nigeria winger, Moses Simon has sounded a cautionary note to Cameroon.

The encounter between the Super Eagles and the Indomitable Lions is set to take place on Saturday, January 27, at the Félix Houphouët Boigny Stadium.

During a pre-match press conference in Abidjan today (January 26), Simon noted that Nigeria triumphed over the physically imposing hosts, Ivory Coast with a 1-0 victory.

As captured by Sports Brief, the winger said:

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"Don’t forget Côte d'Ivoire - they are physical also, but we won 1-0."

He stressed that physicality alone does not guarantee success, urging his teammates to focus on playing their game and scoring goals.

"Physical does not mean you will win; just play and score," he added.

The match, scheduled to kick off at 11:00 pm East African Time (9 pm West African Time), is being touted as a de facto final before the actual culmination of the tournament.

This fixture, previously the AFCON final in 1984, 1988, and 2000, sees Nigeria and Cameroon face off at this stage for the first time since their 2019 encounter, which the Super Eagles won 3-2 with goals from Odion Ighalo (two) and Alex Iwobi, as reported by CAF.

AFCON history: Cameroon vs Nigeria

The Indomitable Lions, historically successful against the Super Eagles in the early stages of AFCON, have experienced a recent downturn, losing three of their last four encounters. Cameroon are only surpassed in AFCON defeats by Egypt, having lost to the West Africans three times.

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Nigeria, making their 15th consecutive AFCON appearance, have consistently reached the knockout stages. However, after winning four in a row, they faced elimination in their last two knockout ties (2019 semi-finals, 2021 last 16).

Cameroon's recent knockout games have been decided by penalties, with a loss in the 2021 semi-finals against Egypt and a victory in the third-place play-off against Burkina Faso.

In team news, Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman are set to return to the Super Eagles' starting lineup for the crucial Round of 16 encounter against Cameroon, as reported by Score Nigeria.

The duo, benched in the last group game against Guinea-Bissau, is expected to contribute to Nigeria's tactical approach, deploying a 3-4-3 formation to secure a victory against their eternal rivals.

Nigeria tipped to win AFCON clash with Cameroon

Sports Brief also reported on when Super Eagles legend, Segun Odegbami backed Nigeria to win comfortably against Rigobert Song’s team.

He believes the game against Cameroon will be Nigeria’s easiest game, feeling it will not be a free-flowing match on a typically good pitch.