NIGERIA BEATS CAMEROON IN THE KNOCK-OUT STAGE TO PROGRESS TO THE QUARTER FINALS

By Marinus Fonge PhD

NIGERIA 2-0 CAMEROON

A penny for the thoughts of the watching Roger Milla. It was in this same stadium in the Ivorian capital that forty years ago he and Theophile Abega tore a young Nigerian team to shreds to bring home the first of five continental triumphs for the Indomitable Lions. Tonight, it was the proverbial stroll in the park for a dominant and hungry Super Eagles and a game too far for their opponents. What would have hurt the millions of fans across the world was the absolute lack of ideas, lack of fight, and lack of tactical nous from a coaching team that waited nigh on eighty minutes before making a substitution. Aboubakar, Yongwa, Tchato are just three of the names that should have started the game for the likes of Ekambi, Ngamaleu and Gonzalez. The pain etched on Roger Milla's face was indicative of how the mighty have fallen: no effort on target and not a glove laid on the Nigerian defence.