AFCON: Nigeria thump Mozambique, Egypt edge Benin
Catch up on the day's AFCON action -- former Ligue 1 McDonald's stars put on a show as Nigeria thumped Mozambique, while Egypt had to work hard to beat Benin. Get the latest from the Round of 16 in Morocco with our recaps.
Nigeria 4-0 Mozambique
After a few uneven displays in the group stage, Nigeria were all business against an overmatched Mozambique on Monday night in Fez, and it was a pair of former Ligue 1 McDonald's stars who led the way for the Super Eagles in Akor Adams (ex-Montpellier) and Victor Osimhen (ex-LOSC). The former Dogue was well up for the match, and thought he had scored in the second minute, but VAR intervened to rule his effort out.
It was only a momentary reprieve for Mozambique, though, as Adams helped get the Super Eagles up and running with a sublime square ball for Ademola Lookman (20') before Osimhen doubled the lead at the back post five minutes later with Adams flicking the ball on for the assist. Lookman then played provider just after the restart, curling the ball just past the 'keeper for Osimhen at the back post. Adams would then finish off the scoring with 15 minutes to play, benefiting from some lovely interplay between FC Nantes' Moses Simon and Lookman (75'). With the win, Nigeria earned a place in Saturday's quarterfinal against an opponent to be determined.
Nigeria reach the AFCON quarter-finals 👏🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/nLAfXQlTD7
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) January 5, 2026
Egypt 3-1 Benin (AET)
The day's first match may have had less involvement from Ligue 1 players, but it was far from lacking in drama, as a Benin side which featured FC Lorient's Tosin Aiyegun in attack gave a favored Egypt all they could handle in Agadir. After a scoreless first half, Egypt finally broke Benin's resistance on 69 minutes, but veteran winger Jodel Dossou, who spent three seasons with Clermont, scored seven minutes from time, as his deflected effort would take the match to added time.
Able to bring on substitutes like FC Nantes' Mostafa Mohamed, the Pharaohs had the better of extra time as they scored in each fifteen-minute half to secure their progress, but Benin did themselves proud, given the quality of their players. Like Nigeria, Egypt will face one of the winners from tomorrow's final set of matches in their quarterfinal on Saturday.
