By Chinedu Laurel Okorodike

Matches between the Super Eagles and Cameroon is never for the chicken hearted, as it comes with intrigues, moments of sheerness and talking points that makes news headlines.

Till date, the two sides have clashed 22 times including competitive and friendly games, with Nigeria winning 11, while Cameroon have four wins crested under their name. Seven of the 22 past encounters ended in draw.

For Cameroon, they boast of a record which has seen them defeat Nigeria when it matters most even at club level.

If not for the dominance of Cameroon, Nigeria would have lifted the African Cup of Nations trophy (AFCON) six times.

Nigeria have lost to Cameroon in three AFCON finals,1984, 1988 and 2000.

The AFCON 2000, loss to Cameroon is still fresh in the minds of soccer loving fans of the Super Eagles especially Victor Ikpeba's penalty which was disallowed.

Nigeria lost the 1984 AFCON final held in Ivory Coast to Cameroon. The likes of Tarila Okorowanta, Festus Adegboyega, Rashidi Yekini, Adenoma Adesina could not stop the hefty Cameroonians who paraded legendary goalkeeper Thomas Nkono and goal king Roger Milla.

The Green Eagles (as it was called then) lost 3-1 to Cameroon. It was Cameroon's first AFCON trophy.


In 1988 both teams meet again in the AFCON final. This time in Morocco. Nigeria had a team packed with exceptional talents. The likes of Late Samuel Okwaraji, Late Stephen Keshi, Henry Nwosu, Bright Omokaro, Yisa Shofoluwe, Peter Rufai, Ndubuisi Okosieme, were all around causing damages to opponents.

Once again the Manfred Horner tutored Nigeria team got to the final but lost to Cameroon in a manner which remains questionable.

Midfield maestro Henry Nwosu gave Nigeria the lead but the Mauritanian referee disallowed the goal.

The referee went ahead to award a penalty to Cameroon in the 55th minute which Emmanuel Kunde converted to ensure Cameroon lifted the trophy once again. It was there second triumph in the AFCON

The Italia 1990 World Cup Qualifiers brought both teams together once again. Nigeria defeated Cameroon 2-0 in the first leg in Lagos and needed just a draw in the return leg which was played at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaounde to qualify.

But legendary Cameroonian attacker Francois Omam Biyik broke Nigerians heart by scoring the goal that ensured Cameroon's passage to the 1990 World Cup fiesta.

The painful part of that debacle was the death of Samuel Okwaraji who lost his life while playing for Nigeria against Angola in the same World Cup qualifier on 12th August 1989.

The then Captain of the team Stephen Keshi (who incidentally is Late too) said the team wanted to qualify for the Italia 1990 World Cup as a mark of honour for the late Samuel Okwaraji.

In the year 2000, Nigeria made a return to the AFCON after they were banned by CAF for failing to defend the title won in 1994 in Tunisia.

It is a Known fact that South Africa won the 1996 AFCON on home soil due to the absence of Nigeria.

The AFCON 2000 was tagged Ghana/Nigeria 2000 as it was co-hosted by Nigeria and Ghana.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria paraded a star studded team who were regulars in their European clubs and were also at the tick and prime of their careers.

The team was made up of Captain Sunday Oliseh (Juventus), Victor Ikpeba (Borussia Dortmund), Kanu Nwankwo (Arsenal FC), Taribo West (AC Milan), Jay Jay Okocha (PSG), Julius Aghahowa (Shakhtar Donetsk), Tijani Babangida (Ajax), Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea), Daniel Amokachi (Beşiktaş), Finidi George (Real Mallorca) and many more other players.

Two first half goals from Tijani Babangida helped Nigeria dispatch South Africa in the Semi Final in Lagos to set up a Final match meeting in Lagos with Cameroon who defeated Tunisia also in their Semi Final clash.

Cameroon took an early two goals lead via Eto'o in the 26th minute and Patrick M'Boma (I will always remember that name).

Jay Jay Okocha and Raphel Ndukwe (who was the co-commentator on Supersports 9 when Nigeria trashed Cameroon in Uyo on Friday) equalized to make it 2-2.

The game went into penalty shootout and Kanu and Ikpeba missed for Nigeria. The entire crowd present at the National Stadium Lagos were stunned when Ikpeba's penalty was disallowed. That decision turned the game against Nigeria.

Pictures of Ikpeba putting his hand on his head and Sunday Oliseh weeping like a baby remains fresh in my memory. It was a sad Valentines day for soccer loving Nigerians across the globe (The final was played on February 14, 2000).


Both sides clashes again at the 2004 AFCON hosted in Tunisia. This time it was in the Quarter final.

Cameroon raced into an early lead through Samuel Eto'o but Jay Jay Okocha equalized via a stunning freekick and John Utaka smashed the winner to eliminate Cameroon who were the defending Champions. (after lifting the trophy in Mali 2002 at the expense of a Senegalese side led by El Hadji Diof).

Although Nigeria defeated Cameroon 3-0 in an International friendly played in 2015, the recent victory over Cameroon in the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers will help sooth some painful nerves.

It is a decent revenge which came competitively at the right time. So let all soccer loving Nigerians savor and enjoy this moment.

Source: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/09/football-history-Nigeria-vs-Cameroon.html?m=1