The Super Eagles of Nigeria delivered a commanding performance on Monday night, January 5, 2026, to secure their place in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria defeated Mozambique 4-0 in a one-sided Round of 16 clash at the Complexe Sportif de Fes in Morocco.
Dominant Start and Clinical Finishing
The Nigerian side set the tone early, showing intent from the first whistle. Although an early goal from Victor Osimhen was disallowed for offside, the pressure soon told. The deadlock was broken in the 20th minute when Ademola Lookman finished coolly after a slick team move involving Alex Iwobi and Akor Adams.
The floodgates opened shortly after. Just five minutes later, Osimhen made amends for his earlier disallowed effort, tapping in from close range after a precise pass from Lookman. The Napoli striker was not done yet, completing his brace just two minutes into the second half, again assisted by the prolific Lookman.
Adams Seals the Deal with Maiden AFCON Goal
The scoring was rounded off in the 75th minute by Akor Adams, who powered home a right-footed shot to mark his first-ever goal in the continental tournament. Remarkably, the assist came from Ademola Lookman, who completed a hat-trick of assists for the night, underlining his pivotal role in the victory.
Coach Jose Peseiro made strategic changes in the latter stages, introducing players like Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Raphael Onyedika, Paul Onuachu, and Samuel Chukwueze to see out the comfortable win and manage player fitness.
Tournament Standouts and Looking Ahead
With this result, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have now scored three goals each in Nigeria's four matches at AFCON 2025, establishing themselves as the team's primary attacking threats. The comprehensive win sends a strong message to other contenders in the tournament.
In related news, former Super Eagles coach Daniel Amokachi recently highlighted three players who have impressed him at the tournament: Senegal's Ibrahim Mbaye, Nigeria's own Raphael Onyedika, and Morocco's Ayoub El Kaabi.
The Super Eagles will now await the winner of another Round of 16 tie as they prepare for their quarterfinal challenge, full of confidence after this resounding victory.
