Nigeria’s Super Eagles stormed into the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a commanding 4–0 victory over Mozambique in their Round of 16 match at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in Morocco.
Ademola Lookman opened the scoring in the 20th minute before Victor Osimhen doubled the lead just five minutes later, reacting fastest from a low cross to put the Super Eagles firmly in control.
Osimhen struck again early in the second half to complete his brace, taking his tournament tally higher, before Akor Adams capped the rout with a powerful finish in the 76th minute.
This emphatic win — the first four-goal haul by a side at AFCON 2025 — ensured Nigeria maintained a perfect record, becoming the tournament’s first team to win all four of their matches thus far. The Super Eagles will now await their quarter-final opponent after Algeria and DR Congo play their last-16 tie.
Editorial
In the choir of football’s grand narratives, few performances at this Africa Cup of Nations have sung with the clarity and authority of Nigeria’s 4–0 dismantling of Mozambique. It was not merely a victory, but a declaration one that fused tactical coherence with individual brilliance, and stitched momentum into the fabric of a campaign that now pulses with genuine title intent.
From the outset in Fès, Nigeria’s demand for control was palpable. Ademola Lookman, ever the dynamic catalyst, ensured that his team’s intention was reflected in early pressure that bore fruit in the 20th minute. His first-half contributions were as much about tempo as they were about touch a winger whose intelligence both unsettles defenders and unlocks them.
Then there was Victor Osimhen a talisman whose physicality and predatory instinct elevate every attack. His brace was not simply reflective of finishing prowess but of timing, spatial awareness and an almost ritualistic understanding of where the decisive moment resides. In a tournament where cutting edge can be elusive, his clinical presence at both ends of the 90 minutes was a strategic fulcrum.
And yet, football is rarely a duet. Akor Adams’ late flourish reminded us that this Super Eagles side is not an assembly of star turns, but a collective woven from complementary threads. What emerged against Mozambique was a synthesis — midfield inventiveness marrying forward ambition, defence assurance linking to attack fluidity.
For Nigeria, the result goes beyond the margin. It is the kind of performance that reshapes narrative trajectories and relieves the psychological pressure that often clings to nations with lofty expectations. In a tournament where every match narrative is a test of character, this was a defining one a performance that respects tradition while announcing modern intent.
Now, as they await a quarter-final opponent, the Super Eagles carry with them not just the scoreline, but the conviction that they are no mere participants. They are contenders — calibrated, cohesive and ready to meet the next challenge with the same precision that delivered this resounding triumph.
Did You Know?
- Super Eagles Goal Streak With this result, Nigeria extended their AFCON finals scoring run to 11 consecutive matches, the longest such streak in their history.
- Lookman’s Direct Contributions Ademola Lookman has been involved in multiple goals throughout AFCON 2025, with five direct goal contributions (goals + assists) after the Mozambique match.
- Osimhen’s All-Time Tally Victor Osimhen’s brace brought him to 34 goals for Nigeria, just three shy of Rashidi Yekini’s all-time scoring record for the Super Eagles.
- Mozambique’s Historic Knockout Run Mozambique reached the AFCON knockout stages for the first time in their history before bowing out to Nigeria.
- Clean Sheet Rarity: This 4–0 win was also Nigeria’s first clean sheet of the tournament, highlighting improved defensive organisation under coach Eric Chelle.
