By Sunday Agu
FEZ, Morocco — Nigeria surged into the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Monday night, dismantling Mozambique 4–0 to maintain a perfect record and secure a historic milestone for the West African giants.
The victory at the Stade Hassan II marked the first time in history the Super Eagles have won their opening four fixtures at an AFCON tournament. Having dominated Group C with consistent superiority, Nigeria’s clinical display in Fez further cemented their status as the frontrunners for the continental title.
Ademola Lookman ignited the scoring early with a clinical finish, a goal that set a relentless tone for the remainder of the match. Lookman turned playmaker later in the half, threading a pass to Victor Osimhen, who doubled the lead before the interval.
The connection between the duo remained telepathic in the second half. Osimhen completed his brace shortly after the restart, again ghosting onto a precise setup from Lookman. Substitute Akor Adams rounded out the emphatic win, unleashing a powerful strike from inside the box to leave Mozambique without an answer.
“I am very proud of the discipline and tactical awareness the boys showed tonight,” said Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle. “Whether it was the experienced leaders or the debutants, everyone remained focused on the objective. We are playing with a cohesion that makes us very difficult to break down.”
Nigeria’s dominance was reflected in every metric, from possession to defensive organization. Despite the attacking fireworks, the Eagles maintained a clean sheet, limiting Mozambique’s chances through disciplined marking and high-intensity pressing.
The historic 4–0 win has sent ripples through the tournament, with analysts pointing to the balance of youthful energy and veteran leadership. Osimhen’s presence up front and Lookman’s creative spark have proved to be the tournament’s most lethal combination.
“We wanted to send a message that we are here to compete for the championship,” Chelle added. “Winning four in a row is a great achievement for the history books, but our eyes are on the final. We must maintain this momentum.”
The Super Eagles now await the winner of the round-of-16 clash between Burkina Faso and DR Congo to determine their quarter-final opponent. With squad rotations keeping the roster fresh and a bench deep enough to produce goals from players like Adams, Nigeria looks prepared for the high-stakes knockout rounds ahead.
