AFCON 2023: What Cameroon coach Rigobert Song said about the loss to Nigeria

The Super Eagles completely dominated the Indomitable Lions in Abidjan on Saturday on the road to securing a memorable victory at the AFCON

Nigeria claimed their fourth-ever AFCON victory over Cameroon as a brilliant Ademola Lookman brace handed the Super Eagles a straightforward 2-0 win in the Round of 16 at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.

Despite edging the ball possession stats, Cameroon did nothing of note in the encounter, creating zero clear-cut chances and getting no shot on target.

Nigeria had three more shots on target, won two more corner-kicks, forced goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa to one more save, and scored two more goals than the Cameroonians.

Still, Cameroon head coach Rigobert Song is convinced that his players’ performance was not terrible.

Song pointed out that the Indomitable Lions showed youthful inexperience and too much respect for Nigeria.

The former Liverpool defender highlighted that his players gave away the two goals Nigeria scored, mistakes that caused their exit from the AFCON.

“My analysis is that we were not bad overall, but you can see that I have the youngest team currently in competition, and there are players who are discovering,” Song told newsmen after the game, as per ActuCameroun.

“It is we who give the adversary the opportunity to put us in difficulty. It’s part of the game. 

“I’ve said it in the past; today I’m rebuilding. It is by making these mistakes that we will grow. It’s football. The African Cup is a competition that is played on all levels. On a technical, tactical, but also mental level.

“My players, I had the impression that they were afraid to express themselves and let themselves go. It’s part of the stress. I don’t know why we were too withdrawn.”

Nigeria have defeated Cameroon at the last-16 stage in two of the last three editions of the AFCON.

With the latest victory, Nigeria booked their spot in the quarterfinals of Cote d’Ivoire 2023, where they will lock horns with Angola.

The Palancras Negras secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Namibia in their Round-of-16 clash.