Cameroon coach Hugo Broos cut a dejected figure well before Kelechi Iheanacho buried Ogenyi Onazi's inch-perfect delivery in the 77th minute, as Nigeria romped to a 4-0 win over the African champions in Uyo on Friday.
With two points from their opening two games, Cameroon needed at least a result in Nigeria to have any hopes of making this World Cup qualifying series anything resembling a contest.
By the end of it, they were out of it, outclassed and eliminated and Broos admitted they were never in the running at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
"The best team won," he conceded at the post-match press conference. "Nigeria were better than us.
"In the first 20 minutes of the first half and the beginning of the second half, we did what we needed to do, but for the rest of the game, Nigeria were better, more determined and first to ever ball.
"We lost 4-0 but they had another three of four chances and it could have been more."
Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr did not disagree with Broos' assessment of the opening minutes, but said it was all part of the tactical plan
"We wanted to beat them at their own game," the German coach began. "We knew that we would have chances for the counterattack, so we let them come to us so that our wingers could give them problems."
Rohr attributed particular praise to John Obi Mikel, who contributed the assist for Nigeria's opener and then added the second for the hosts upon his return to the side.
"But above all, we had our captain and our leader back," Rohr concluded, "and that helped us."
Nigeria, with three wins from their opening three games, could now become the first African side to qualify for the World Cup if they win in Yaounde in four days' time.
"There is no hope," acknowledged a despairing Broos. "We have to win three games and Nigeria have to lose three games. That's not possible."