Nigeria vs Mozambique: Osimhen-led Super Eagles trash Mambas to reach AFCON 2025 last eight

Nigeria demolished Mozambique 4-0 in a ruthless Round of 16 display that combined clinical finishing, tactical discipline, and the kind of swagger that announces genuine title contenders. 

Led by a rejuvenated Victor Osimhen, who silenced weeks of criticism with a commanding brace, Eric Chelle's side became the first team to score four goals in a single match in AFCON 2025 to officially ending the Mambas' fairytale tournament debut at the knockout stage.

This wasn't just a victory, it was the Total Football revolution Nigerian fans had demanded and Chelle promised finally arriving in spectacular fashion.

Nigeria wasted zero time establishing control. After an early offside flag briefly interrupted their rhythm, the breakthrough arrived in the 20th minute through the inevitable Ademola Lookman, the tournament's highest-rated player and current golden boot leader.

The goal was pure Nigerian football at its best: Alex Iwobi's intelligent movement created space, Akor Adams provided the killer pass, and Lookman finished with ice-cold composure past Mozambique goalkeeper Ernan Siluane. 1-0, and the Mambas' resistance was already cracking.

Five minutes later, it shattered completely.

Victor Osimhen, criticised, questioned, and doubted heading into this tournament, reminded everyone exactly why he's one of Africa's most feared strikers. 

Akor Adams delivered a pinpoint cross, and the Galatasaray forward cleverly deflected the ball past Siluane to make it 2-0. The celebration was equal parts relief and defiance.

By halftime, the statistics told the story: Nigeria in complete control, Mozambique with zero shots on target, and the Super Eagles cruising toward the quarter-finals with 45 minutes still to play.

If Mozambique hoped for a second-half miracle, Osimhen crushed those dreams within two minutes of the restart.

In the 47th minute, Lookman produced a moment of individual brilliance, dancing past three defenders like they weren't there before squaring the ball for Osimhen to tap into an empty net. 3-0. Brace secured. Critics silenced.

With the result beyond doubt, Chelle began rotating his squad, introducing fresh legs and managing minutes ahead of tougher tests to come. But the goals didn't stop.

In the 75th minute, Akor Adams, who had been pulling the strings all evening, decided he deserved his own moment. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, the forward unleashed an unstoppable strike that thundered into the roof of the net. 4-0. Game over. "Man of the Match" performance complete.

The final whistle was a formality. Nigeria had delivered the comprehensive, ruthless performance that 200 million fans had been demanding since the tournament began.

This wasn't just about the scoreline, it was about answering every criticism, every doubt, every painful memory of knockout collapses that have haunted this Super Eagles generation.

The last eight awaits. And based on tonight's performance, the rest of Africa should be very, very worried.