As Iwobi winner sends Super Eagles flying into quarters

Harry Awurumibe

There will be a new winner at the Total Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2019 after defending champions Cameroon were sent packing by Nigeria who beat them 3-2 in a five-goal round of 16 thriller in Alexandria today.

Man of the Match, Odion Jude Ighalo struck twice with Alex Iwobi scoring the winner after Cameroon had raced from a goal down to lead 2-1 courtesy of goals from Stephen Bahoken and Clinton Njie.

Nigeria sought to give an immediate response after going 2-1 down and Moses Simon’s shot from inside the box off an Ahmed Musa cross was deflected over for a corner that went to waste and in a half that they were hugely underwhelming, Clarence Seedorf was a delighted man seeing his charges go to the dressing rooms a goal up.

In the second half, Nigeria tore a piece off Cameroon’s script, responding with two goals in three minutes to re-take the lead.

Ighalo completed his brace in the 62nd minute beating the offside trap and sweeping the ball past Onana after Musa had done well to chest down Collins Awaziem’s cross from the right.

Three minutes later, Iwobi scored what would turn out to be the winner when Cameroon were caught off possession, Ighalo sweeping the ball through to the Arsenal forward who finished calmly past Onana.

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr had made changes at the start of the second half bringing in Samuel Chukwueze for Simon in a bid to increase the speed of the game.

Cameroon tried to turn the game back in their favor with Seedorf bringing in Karl Toko Ekambi for Njie. As the clock ticked, Rohr resorted to guard his win bringing off match winner Iwobi for defender Leon Balogun as the Super Eagles nervously held on for the win.

In the second match of the day, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana eliminated hosts Egypt in an all-time AFCON shock result.

South Africa beat Egypt 1-0 to reach the 2019 total AFCON quarterfinals on Saturday night. Thembikosi Lorch scored what proved to be the game’s lone goal five minutes from time to produce on Africa Cup of Nations all time surprises.

South Africa will now face Nigeria on Wednesday (10 July 2019) with a place in the semifinal at stake.

Hosts and record champions Egypt will have themselves to blame after losing the chance of a record extending eighth title at home despite the huge support of more than 70000 fans at the infamous Cairo International Stadium.

Against all expectations, South Africa were the first to test Egypt’s goalkeeper Mohamed Elshenawy through Thembinkosi Lorch after just two minutes but the Pharaohs goalkeeper was up to the challenge.

Egypt responded with Mohamed Salah making use of Ahmed Elmohamady cross but the Liverpool striker shot was deflected to a corner.

Bafana Bafana had the upper hand and threatened Elshenawy more than once in the opening half. At the quarter hour mark Elshenawy was up to Percy Tau shot. He was there again to stop another shot from Tau after 22 minutes with the South Africans looking nearer to take the lead.

Against the run of play, Salah led a counter attack and fed Mahmoud Trezeguet whose shot caused no problem to South Africa’s goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. Kamohelo Mokutjo sent a scorcher after 36 minutes but it missed the target narrowly. And three minutes later Elshenawy came to Egypt’s rescue again when he used his feet to stop Lorch from close distance to see the opening half ending goalless.

Egypt started the second half with an attempt from Mohamed Elneny who tried from distance but missed the target. Both sides tried to control possession but without real threat on target till the 58th minute when Salah’s through pass reached Trezeguet whose shot was stopped by Williams.

Lorch once again could have given South Africa the lead after 72 minutes but Elshenawy once again was there to save the hosts.

And five minutes to the end Egypt hat to deal with the shock. Lebo Mosiba caught Egypt defense napping and found Lorch who went one on one with Elshenawy to score what proved to be the shocking winner for Bafana Bafana.