By Kunle Solaja, Fes
Nigeria recorded the highest scoreline and widest winning margin of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations after a commanding 4–0 demolition of Mozambique on Monday night, a result that echoed the Super Eagles’ recent 4–0 thrashing of the Benin Republic in an October international.
In a Round of 16 contest that underlined Nigeria’s growing authority in Morocco, Nigeria national football team delivered a performance of rare control and ruthlessness.
Ademola Lookman was the architect-in-chief, scoring once and supplying three assists, while Victor Osimhen struck twice to take the Super Eagles emphatically into the quarter-finals. Akor Adams completed the rout with a superb late finish.
The four-goal margin now stands as the biggest win recorded at the tournament so far — and it could have been far heavier. Nigeria created chance after chance, carving open the Mozambique defence with pace, movement and precision, but were guilty of wastefulness in front of goal.
Mozambique, appearing in the knockout rounds for the first time in their history, were quickly overwhelmed by Nigeria’s intensity and athleticism. The warning signs came as early as the second minute when Osimhen swept the ball into the net from Frank Onyeka’s cross, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
The breakthrough arrived in the 20th minute. Lookman ghosted into the box and calmly side-footed home from Adams’ pull-back to open the scoring. Five minutes later, the winger again tormented the Mozambique back line, driving a low ball across goal for Osimhen to tap in at the back post.
Nigeria resumed after the interval with the same purpose. Just two minutes into the second half, Lookman benefited from a fortunate rebound before squaring once more for Osimhen, who finished ahead of the scrambling defence to make it 3–0.
The pick of the goals arrived in the 75th minute. Released by Lookman, Adams struck a ferocious shot from a tight angle that flew past the goalkeeper to crown Nigeria’s most emphatic display of the competition.
Both Lookman and Osimhen — former African Footballers of the Year — now have three goals apiece at the tournament, underlining Nigeria’s attacking depth and balance.
Mozambique’s only meaningful opening came in the 24th minute when Geny Catamo threaded a pass through for Faizal Bangal, but the danger was swiftly snuffed out by a well-organised Nigerian defence.
Nigeria now move on to Marrakech, where they will face either Algeria national football team or the DR Congo national football team on Saturday, carrying momentum — and the tournament’s most emphatic scoreline — into the quarter-finals.
For Mozambique, the heavy defeat ended a historic campaign that had already delivered a landmark moment: their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations knockout appearance, achieved after a dramatic 3–2 group-stage win over Gabon as one of the four best third-placed teams.
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