Nigeria delivered a dominant performance in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 round of 16, cruising to a convincing 4-0 victory over Mozambique at the Complexe Sportif de Fès on January 5, 2026.
Ademola Lookman opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a precise finish, before Victor Osimhen doubled the lead just five minutes later. Osimhen added his second shortly after halftime in the 47th minute, effectively ending any hope of a Mozambique comeback.
Akor Adams sealed the rout with a powerful strike in the 75th minute, assisted once again by the influential Lookman. The Super Eagles, who entered the knockout stage with a perfect group record, showcased their attacking prowess and became the first team in this tournament to score four goals in a single match.
This emphatic win marks Nigeria’s 62nd AFCON victory and propels them into the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of Algeria versus DR Congo.
In the earlier round of 16 clash, Egypt needed extra time to overcome a resilient Benin side, ultimately prevailing 3-1 in Agadir. Marwan Attia gave the Pharaohs the lead in the 69th minute, but Jodel Dossou equalized for Benin in the 83rd, forcing an additional 30 minutes.
Yasser Ibrahim headed Egypt back in front in the 97th minute, and captain Mohamed Salah sealed the progression with a late strike in the 120+4th minute—his third goal of the tournament.
Despite the struggle against the stubborn Cheetahs, the seven-time champions advanced to the quarterfinals, keeping alive their pursuit of an eighth title. Egypt will next play the winner of Ivory Coast versus Burkina Faso.
Both Nigeria and Egypt have now secured their places in the last eight of AFCON 2025, held in Morocco, as the tournament intensifies toward the semifinals and final on January 18.