Nigeria qualified for the quarter‑finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a resounding 4–0 victory over Mozambique in Fez on Monday, delivering one of its most convincing displays of the tournament, even if Victor Osimhen’s attitude cast a slight shadow over the evening. All three forwards found the net – Ademola Lookman, Akor Adams and a Victor Osimhen brace – allowing Eric Chelle’s team to maintain its perfect record in Morocco, the Super Eagles becoming the first Nigerian side in history to win their first four matches at an AFCON finals. Dominant, ruthless and brimming with confidence, Nigeria overwhelmed a Mozambican team that had shown resilience earlier in the competition but was eventually undone by the Super Eagles’ speed, movement and precision.
Nigeria thought it had taken the lead as early as the fourth minute when the ball hit the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside despite a touch from a Mozambican defender. The decision did little to alter the pattern of the game. The Super Eagles quickly took control, with Ademola Lookman stretching the defence down the left and Alex Iwobi dictating the tempo in midfield. Semi Ajayi carved out two chances but failed to convert Lookman’s pinpoint crosses, the winger involved in every dangerous move. Mozambique held out until the 20th minute, when Nigeria’s pressure finally told: an inch‑perfect through‑ball from Iwobi split the defence and released Akor Adams, whose unselfish cut‑back allowed Lookman to beat the keeper with a composed side‑foot finish. It was Lookman’s third goal of the tournament, taking his tally to five goal contributions.
Six minutes later, the lead was doubled. Once again, Iwobi initiated the move, releasing Lookman down the left flank. His low cross, deflected, fell kindly for Osimhen, who reacted quickest to finish from close range. Nigeria could have extended its advantage before the break on several lightning counter‑attacks, but Adams, Lookman and Osimhen were all denied, and the first half ended with the Super Eagles firmly in control. Any lingering doubt was removed three minutes after the restart. Lookman, enjoying a majestic evening, again found space on the left and delivered another precise pass for Osimhen, who fired home with an unstoppable strike. It was the striker’s second goal of the night and his 34th for Nigeria, bringing him to within just three goals of Rashidi Yekini’s all‑time record.
Nigeria kept pushing. Bright Osayi‑Samuel, Wilfred Ndidi and Osimhen all went close, while Mozambique struggled to live with the Super Eagles’ intensity. Osimhen, however, was seen angrily berating Lookman for failing to pick him out when well placed, and the Galatasaray star was then substituted just after the hour mark, a bold call from Eric Chelle given that his main marksman would normally be expected to stay on. The fourth goal finally arrived in the 76th minute, once again created by Lookman. His precise cross found Akor Adams, who powered the ball into the net for his first goal of the tournament, making Nigeria the first team at AFCON 2025 to score four goals in a single match. Three out of three: all of Nigeria’s forwards got on the scoresheet.
This victory also extended to 11 the Super Eagles’ run of consecutive AFCON finals matches in which they have scored at least once, the longest such streak in their history. Nigeria now joins Morocco, Senegal, Mali, Cameroon and Egypt as one of the six teams already through to the quarter‑finals.
Heroic Benin, Egypt shatters their dream in extra time
Benin saw its 2025 AFCON adventure end in the round of 16 on Monday against Egypt. Facing the Pharaohs at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir, Benin fell 3–1, meaning elimination at the last‑16 stage. Deprived of Steve Mounié, David Kiki and Abdoul Rachid Moumini, all ruled out, and then Aiyegun Tosin, forced off injured in the 32nd minute (replaced by Jodel Dossou), the Cheetahs pushed Egypt to the limit. Seven minutes from the end of normal time, J. Dossou slammed the ball into the net after Mohamed El‑Shenawy had cleared it off the line, cancelling out Marwan Attia’s opener on 69 minutes and forcing extra time. In addition to rewarding coach Gernot Rohr’s inspired substitutions, the Pays du Valois striker became the first Beninese substitute ever to score at an AFCON, as highlighted by Stats Foot.
In extra time, Yasser Ibrahim beat Marcel Dandjinou with a looping header to restore Egypt’s lead. The Benin goalkeeper, heroic on several occasions (55th, 89th), got the faintest touch to the ball with his glove but could not stop it from nestling in the top corner in the 97th minute. Finally, with the exhausted Beninese throwing everything forward in search of an equaliser, Mohamed Salah killed the game on the counter, coolly slotting past Dandjinou deep into stoppage time (120+4). Benin will therefore not reach the quarter‑finals. Egypt claims the precious ticket and now awaits the winner of the tie between Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.