Odion Ighalo and Alex Iwobi were on target as Nigeria defeated Cameroon 3-2 to advance to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.
After losing to Madagascar, the usual suspects such as Alex Iowbi and Odion Igahlo returned for Nigeria with the Cameroonians putting their best foot forward too.
The Super Eagles drew first blood 19 minutes in after Ighalo's side-footer deflected into the bottom corner from an indirect free-kick.
In an instant, Cameroon began playing with more urgency and pace in search of a leveller with the Nigerians tracking back, buoyed by the front-foot.
The Indomitable Lions restored parity five minutes to halftime as Stephane Bahoken volleyed beyond Nigerian shot-stopper Daniel Akpeyi after a cross from the left.
Nigeria were turned upside down four minutes later after Clinton Njie shrugged off Ola Aina in a 50-50 challenge to send Akpeyi the wrong way as the defending champions went in to the break leading.
The suffering continued for the Nigerians early in the second half, as Akpeyi's one-handed palm stop Aina from slotting Njie's cross in to his own net.
This worrying spell forced Gernot Rohr to a 60th minute change, as Samuel Chukwueze came on for Moses Simon to launch their come back.
And it proved the perfect masterstroke after Ighalo volleyed Musa's chest-trapped past Andre Onana 63 minutes on the clock.
Three minutes later, Ighalo turned from scorer to provider with a through ball for Iwobi who surged into the area to apply a low finish past Onana.
Ighalo nearly secured the tournament's first hat-trick from a snap-shot inside the area on 75 minutes, but Onana palmed clear.
Chances continued falling for the former Watford man in the final eight minutes, but Onana's one-hand stop had other ideas. That didn't matter though, as the Nigerians grabbed the honours in the West African derby at the expense of the defending champions, who bowed out.