Nigeria and Cameroon face each other this Saturday, January 27 in a remake of the 1984 CAN final which already took place in Ivory Coast. Since then, the two teams have faced each other on numerous occasions but, this time, they are playing for their place in the quarter-finals after a first round that they were far from overcoming.
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From our special correspondent in Abidjan,
The Félix Houphoüet-Boigny stadium in Abidjan, the Félicia for short, should bring back good memories to supporters of the Indomitable Lions. It was at this very place, on March 18, 1984, that Cameroon won the first of its five African Cup of Nations by largely dominating Nigeria 3-1.
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“ It was a match that was predictable not because of its result, but because of its quality because Nigeria was 80 African champion and Cameroon was an 82 world champion so both teams had references. There was reason to predict a great match “, remembers Joseph-Antoine Bell, the legendary goalkeeper of the Indomitable Lions who kept Cameroon’s goals at that time.
Same place, same poster
Forty years later, history almost seems to repeat itself. The two teams will face each other in the same stadium, except that the issue this time is a place in the quarter-finals and that the latest results of the two teams speak much less in their favor. Cameroon came close to elimination against Gambia in its last group match, while Nigeria, undefeated in this CAN, struggled to reassure its offensive potential, scoring only three goals , despite the presence in its ranks of the best African player of 2023, Victor Osimhen.
In forty years, the Nigeria-Cameroon matches have become great classics in the history of the CAN between two neighboring countries which are almost the best enemies in the tournament. Cameroon have won three of their five titles in the final against Nigeria (1984, 1988, 2000) but the Indomitable Lions have not won in the competition against the Super Eagles since 2000 in the Lagos final lost on penalties . In 2004, the Cameroonians lost again 2-1 in the quarter-finals then again in the round of 16 in 2019 (3-2).
The weight of history
The meetings between the two teams are therefore each time high stakes and have become part of the legend of the competition. At a press conference, Nigerian striker Moses Simon said he didn’t really feel the weight of history before this match. “ We don’t really look to the past. All we need is to win “, he said. Pragmatic, his coach José Peseiro also preferred to put aside the historical aspect of the confrontation, simply conceding that he did not intend to let the scenario of March 18, 1984 repeat itself. “ I want us to score at least one goal tomorrow (this Saturday, Editor’s note) and not take it. If we do this, we will win “, he explained during a most basic mathematical demonstration.
On the Cameroonian side, confidence was not high during this group stage, but victory and qualification, snatched from Gambia in the last five minutes, was good for the mind. “ At this point in the competition, there is no longer any need to find the right formula. I no longer have the right to calculation. We just need to correct what didn’t work in the last match. », Explained the coach of the Indomitable Lions who obviously does not intend to shake up his team.
“ Another generation »
Captain of Cameroon during the 2000 victory, Rigobert Song, who was seven years old during the Cameroonian coronation of 1984, still wanted to put the weight of history on this meeting into perspective, recalling that the players making up the two teams today are part “ from another generation “. In short, for the Lions coach the past is part of the past, even if he nevertheless admitted that it was necessary “ assume the history of Cameroon and ensure its continuity “.
“ Now it’s about everyone’s memory. The question is: what have we kept from the past and how do we use it? This is what will help make the difference », assures Joseph-Antoine Bell. One thing remains certain, in forty years, the clashes between Nigeria and Cameroon at the CAN have never disappointed, it remains to be seen whether this Saturday’s poster will keep the same promises.