Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen bagged a brace on Monday night as Nigeria walloped Mozambique 4-0 to sweep into the quarter-finals at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ademola Lookman gave Eric Chelle's side the lead in the 20th minute at the Stade de Fes. Five minutes later, the Atalanta striker turned provider for Osimhen to double the advantage.
Barely into the second-half and the same duo combined for Osimhen's second goal of the night and his third of the tournament.
In their second game during the pool stages, Nigeria led Tunisia 3-0 after 75 minutes before conceding two goals to set up a nervy finale in which they almost let in an equaliser.
There was no repeat performance against a Mozambique team playing in the knockout stages for the first time in six trips to Africa's most prestigious national football team competition.
Akor Adams, fed by Lookman, thrashed in Nigeria's fourth goal 15 minutes from time to notch up the biggest winning margin in a Cup of Nations knockout tie since Egypt battered Algeria 4-0 in the semi-finals at the 2010 tournament in Angola.
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The Nigerians went into Monday night's clash as one of only two teams at the 2025 tournament to waltz through the first phase with a 100 percent record.
Four years ago at the Cup of Nations in Cameroon, Nigeria pulled off the same feat but then lost to Tunisia in the last-16 in Garoua.
Skipper Wilfred Ndidi, who was part of that squad, said before Monday night's game that the setback would serve as motivation for maintaining focus against Mozambique.
And his teammates were as good as his promise.
They tore into a side 64 places beneath them in the Fifa world rankings. And once in front, Mozambique could not compete with a collective seeking redemption at the Cup of Nations after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the summer.
Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, rested for the third Group C game against Uganda, was an onlooker during the 90 minutes.
"I'm really happy with the performance from the team," said Lookman who was deemed man-of-the-match for the second time at the 2025 competition.
"Obviously the teammates helped me to get the individual accolade so I've got to give thanks to them."
The 28-year-old added: "I hope we can continue like this."
In the last eight on Saturday in Marrakesh, Nigeria will play the winner of Tuesday night's last-16 match between Algeria and Democratic Republic of Congo.
