AFCON 2025: Perfect record, Osimhen row with Lookman – All you need to know about Nigeria’s quarter-final qualification

Nigeria certified for the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations because of a convincing 4-0 victory over Mozambique in Fes on Monday, delivering one in all their most full performances of the match, even when Victor Osimhen’s perspective solid a shadow.

Targets from all three members of the attacking trident – Ademola Lookman, Akor Adams and Victor Osimhen (brace) – allowed Eric Chelle’s facet to keep up their excellent document in Morocco, with the Tremendous Eagles changing into the primary Nigerian crew in historical past to win their opening 4 matches at an AFCON finals.

Dominant, ruthless and brimming with confidence, Nigeria overwhelmed a Mozambique facet that had proven resilience earlier within the competitors however was in the end undone by the velocity, motion and precision of their opponents.

Lookman runs riot as Nigeria cruise

Nigeria thought that they had taken the lead as early because the fourth minute when the ball discovered the online, however the purpose was dominated out for offside regardless of being touched by a Mozambican defender.

The choice did little to change the circulation of the match. The Tremendous Eagles took management from the outset, with Ademola Lookman stretching the defence from the left and Alex Iwobi dictating the tempo in midfield. Semi Ajayi had two alternatives however did not convert pinpoint crosses from a rampant Lookman, who was concerned in the whole lot.

Mozambique held agency till the twentieth minute, when Nigerian stress lastly advised. A superbly weighted by ball from Iwobi sliced open the defence and launched Akor Adams, whose unselfish cutback allowed Lookman to beat the goalkeeper with a side-footed end. It was Lookman’s third purpose of the match, taking his tally to 5 purpose contributions.

Six minutes later, the lead was doubled. As soon as once more, Iwobi was on the coronary heart of the transfer, releasing Lookman down the left flank. His low cross was deflected into the trail of Osimhen, who was quickest to react and bundled residence from shut vary.

Nigeria might have prolonged their lead earlier than half-time, launching fast counter-attacks, however Adams, Lookman and Osimhen have been all denied, and the primary half ended with the Tremendous Eagles firmly in command.

Osimhen luggage brace… then provides Lookman an earful!

© Imago / DeFodi Photographs

Any lingering doubt was extinguished three minutes after the restart. Lookman, having fun with a masterful night, as soon as once more discovered area on the left and delivered a pinpoint cross to Osimhen, who completed with an unstoppable strike. It was the striker’s second purpose of the night time and his thirty fourth for Nigeria, putting him simply three objectives behind Rashidi Yekini’s all-time document.

Nigeria continued to press. Vivid Osayi-Samuel, Wilfred Ndidi and Osimhen all went shut, whereas Mozambique struggled to comprise the Tremendous Eagles’ depth. Nonetheless, Osimhen firmly berated Lookman for failing to seek out him in a great place. The Galatasaray star was subsequently substituted after the hour mark. A daring name from Eric Chelle, as his striker would definitely have wished to remain on the pitch.

Anyone ought to clarify what occurred between Osimhen and Lookman. pic.twitter.com/maO0GB5vfL

— ??????? (@Varticoo) January 5, 2026

The fourth purpose lastly arrived within the 76th minute, thanks to a different help from Lookman. His exact cross discovered Akor Adams, who powered the ball into the online to attain his first purpose of the match and make Nigeria the primary crew at AFCON 2025 to attain 4 objectives in a single match. Three out of three: all of Nigeria’s forwards discovered the online on this match.

The victory additionally prolonged Nigeria’s run of consecutive AFCON finals matches with at the very least one purpose scored to 11, their longest streak within the historical past of the competitors.

? HIGHLIGHTS: ?? 4–0 ??

Nigeria placed on a present within the Spherical of 16. Shifting on to the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 quarter-finals. pic.twitter.com/ArgpiKWTuo

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 5, 2026

Nigeria’s quarter-final opponent at AFCON 2025

Nigeria at the moment are among the many six groups by to the quarter-finals, alongside Morocco, Senegal, Mali, Cameroon and Egypt. The Tremendous Eagles will study their subsequent opponent on Tuesday, when the match between Algeria and DR Congo will decide who faces Chelle’s facet within the final eight.

This text was initially printed on Prime Mercato.