Super Eagles qualification to the AFCON in 2022 in Cameroon will have to wait after they again failed to beat Sierra Leone in a rematch of last week’s 4-4 draw in Nigeria.
The two West African countries played out a scoreless draw at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown this evening.
Nigeria thus stayed top of Group L with eight points from four matches, while Benin are second with seven points after a goalless draw in Lesotho earlier today.
Sierra Leone are third on three points and Lesotho bottom having recorded two points.
Today’s clash between the Leone Stars and the Eagles was in general a pedestrian game played on a most deplorable pitch.
Home team Sierra Leone carved out more chances in the first half, but early in the second half Kelechi Iheanacho, in for the injured Victor Osimhen, could have opened scoring for the visitors only to fluff his lines in front of goal.
The Leicester City striker will then have his effort chalked off for offside in the 61st minute.
Coach Gernot Rohr insisted on starting goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and Kevin Akpoguma despite the knocks the players received for Friday’s monumental collapse.
Nigeria then suffered a setback just before halftime when their most outstanding player in Benin City, Oghenekaro Etebo, was forced out by injury to be replaced by Shehu Abdullahi.
Mustapha Dumbuya was the mainstay of the Sierra Leone defence in the absence of suspended skipper Umar Bangura and in the second half, the Leone Stars brought on more attackers including Anderlecht winger Mustapha Bundu to get the goal they needed to revive their flagging AFCON hopes.
Everton ace Alex Iwobi was lively in the Eagles midfield, while Samuel Chukwueze again showed some individual brilliance on the right flank.
And in the end, it was the Eagles who finished the stronger as this qualifying group remains wide open with two rounds of matches to played in March 2021.
Super Eagles Starting XI vs Sierra Leone in Freetown 4-2-3-1: Maduka Okoye, Kevin Akpoguma (Awaziem 73), Ola Aina, William Ekong, Leon Balogun – Joe Aribo (Semi Ajayi 83), Oghenekaro Etebo (Shehu Abdullahi 36) – Chukwueze, Iwobi, Ahmed Musa (Captain) – Iheanacho (Emmanuel Dennis 83)
