Scores of Nigerians took to the streets here Sunday to celebrate the 2-1 win over arch-rivals and two-time defending champions Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup.
"We thank God we tamed the Lions," 20-year-old law undergraduate Tony Egbunike said as he declared free drinks at a restaurant in the Obalende area of the city.
"Nigerians really deserved this victory. And I want everybody here to join me in celebrating the breaking of what appeared to be Cameroon's invincibility," he said.
It was a tough 90-minute encounter between the two neighbours with Cameroon taking the lead through Samuel Eto'o in the 42nd minute but it was cancelled out in stoppage time of the first-half with a curling freekick by Jay Jay Okocha.
Nigeria sealed a famous win in the second-half when in the 73rd minute John Utaka ran on to a long ball and with the Cameroon defence absent slotted it into the net.
By the victory, the Super Eagles have broken a 12-year winless run against their old rivals in the Nations Cup.
The last time Nigeria beat the Indomitable Lions in a competitive game was in the third-place match at the 1992 Nations Cup in Senegal, which the Super Eagles won 2-1.
But since that time, it has been the Cameroonians who have reigned supreme over their next-door neighbours.
Nigeria will meet hosts Tunisia on Wednesday in the semi-finals.