Egypt and Nigeria are the fifth and sixth sides through to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals, but they will only know the identity of their next opponents on Tuesday when the last 16 of the tournament in Morocco is completed.
Egypt made heavy work of disposing of Benin, needing extra time to win 3-1 in Agadir on Monday, but for Nigeria it was a much more comfortable task as they thrashed Mozambique 4-0 at a rainy Fes.
Victor Osimhen scored twice as Nigeria’s dominance was near total, with Ademola Lookman scoring the opening goal and producing three assists to drive his side into the quarter-final, where they now meet either Algeria or the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Akor Adams got the other goal.
The scoreline was the biggest margin of victory at the tournament in Morocco and could easily have been doubled had Nigeria not spurned easy chances.
Mozambique had never previously qualified for the knockout stages at the Cup of Nations and looked overwhelmed by the power and speed of their opponents.
Nigeria had the ball in the net as early as the second minute as Osimhen swept home Frank Onyeka’s cross but was clearly offside.
It took another 18 minutes before the opening goal came with Lookman placing a powerful side-footed shot into the net from Adams’ pull-back.
Osimhen then made it 2-0 in the 25th minute with an easy touch-in at the back post after Lookman had driven a pass across the face of goal.
The third goal, two minutes after halftime, was almost identical, although Lookman had the fortune of a rebound falling his way before passing to Osimhen to get a touch ahead of the Mozambique defence.
Adams’ effort in the 75th minute was the best of the goals, a thrashing shot from a tight angle as he was fed the ball by Lookman.
Lookman and Osimhen, both past winners of the African Footballer of the Year award, now each have three goals in the tournament.
Mozambique’s sole chance came in the 24th minute as Geny Catamo fed in a pass for fellow striker Faizal Bangal to run onto, but he was quickly swept up by the chasing Nigeria defence.
Nigeria now move from Fes to Marrakech, where they will meet for Saturday’s quarter-final. Algeria and DR Congo play in Rabat on Tuesday.
Mozambique had won their first Cup of Nations tie in their sixth tournament appearance when they beat Gabon 3-2 in the group phase to go through to the knockout stage as one of the four best third-placed finishers.
Yasser Ibrahim’s superb header and Mohamed Salah’s breakaway strike earned record seven-time champions Egypt a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time victory over Benin earlier on Monday.
Egypt led after 69 minutes through a brilliant 25-metre strike from Marwan Attia, but Benin forced the game into an additional 30 minutes when they equalised late on through Jodel Dossou.
Defender Ibrahim scored his first international goal in the 97th minute when he met Attia’s cross with a header from 15 yards that looped into the top corner of the net, and Salah raced clear to add the third with the last kick of the game.
Benin’s energy and never-say-die spirit stood up well to Egypt’s more composed artistry.
Omar Marmoush was put through one-on-one with Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou but delayed his shot too long and the gloveman was able to make the save at his feet.
Egypt went closer when Marmoush poked the loose ball goalwards but defender Yohan Roche cleared the ball off the line.
Egypt finally broke the deadlock when the ball came to Attia outside the box and he curled his shot into the top corner.
Benin equalised with eight minutes remaining in normal time though and there was a touch of good fortune about it.
Junior Olaitan’s cross from the right took a wicked deflection off Ahmed Fatouh and although Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy made a superb save, Dossou bundled the ball over the line from close range.
After Ibrahim had restored Egypt’s advantage, Salah raced clear in the 124th minute and produced a typically composed finish as he beat the back-pedalling keeper from 25 metres.
Egypt will face defending champions Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals in Agadir on Saturday.
