SUPER Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has warned his players they must keep their feet on the ground despite the hard-earned victory over Cameroon.
The three-time champions defeated the Indomitable Lions 2-0 in a thrilling contest at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium on Saturday night.
Atalanta winger, Ademola Lookman scored both goals for the West Africans.
Lookman opened the scoring for the Super Eagles nine minutes before the break after he was teed up by the hardworking Victor Osimhen.
The 26-year-old then netted the second on the dot of 90 minutes.
The Nigerians had an early Semi Ajayi goal disallowed following a VAR review in this last-16 clash before the constant pressing and bullying of the Cameroon defence by Victor Osimhen led to Lookman finding the net in the 36th minute.
“It was a big performance from the team, we fought well from the first minute to the 100th minute,” said Lookman.
The Super Eagles will now face Angola in the quarter-final next week.
The Palancas Negras thrashed Namibia 3-0 to earn a place in the last eight.
“I am very happy with my boys. I think our team did a very good job against a very good team. We deserved to win,” insisted Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro.
“We will now focus on our next match against Angola, which is having an excellent tournament’, ”the Portuguese told the media at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.
“We must take this opponent seriously, so we will continue to sleep early and eat pasta (laughs). Jokes aside, all the teams at this stage are capable of winning the tournament.”
Meanwhile, Cameroon coach Rigobert Song said a lack of experience cost his side as they go home.
“I have a young team and players who are learning at this level,” he admitted.
“They will learn and improve from their mistakes. In two or three years from now it will be the same players but a different team.”
This fixture is a Cup of Nations classic, with the first three of Cameroon’s five titles coming after wins over Nigeria in the final.
The very first, when a side led by Roger Milla came from behind to win 3-1 in 1984, was achieved in this same stadium in Ivory Coast’s economic capital.
Yet Nigeria won the most recent encounter with their neighbours, in the last 16 in Egypt five years ago, and their current side came into this match as favourites.
The Super Eagles eased through their group unbeaten, while Cameroon needed a stoppage-time goal against Gambia to progress.
Their most recognisable name is Andre Onana, but the Manchester United goalkeeper was dropped for a second successive game, with Fabrice Ondoa of French third-tier side Nimes preferred between the posts.
Vincent Aboubakar, their skipper and main goal threat, was named among the substitutes after missing the group stage injured.
Nigeria brought back captain William Troost-Ekong, Lookman and Alex Iwobi –- scorer of the winner in that 2019 tie –- after all were rested for their last match against Guinea-Bissau.
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