By Okechukwu Emmanuel
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will aim to return to winning ways against Sierra Leone in Freetown on Tuesday in the reverse fixture of the AFCON qualifiers after a Fascinating 4-4 draw on Friday in Benin.
Gernot Rohr’s side were forced to a thrilling 4-4 draw at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin despite taking a 4-1 lead at halftime.
Two Goals from Everton attacker Alex Iwobi as well as goals from Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze had put Gernot Rohr’s side in a commanding position for all 3 points leading by 4-0 with just 30minutes played in the game, but the Leone Stars pulled one back just before the interval through Kwame Quee to hand the Sierra Leone side a lifeline at halftime (4-1). After the interval, a brace from Alhaji Kamara and a goal from Mustapha Bundu turned the game on its head as the Leone Stars claimed a shock 4-4 draw in Benin.
It was a draw which felt like a loss for the Nigerian players as well as the entire coaching crew as the Captain of the Side on that night(Friday) Ahmed apologized to Nigerians saying that the team was very sorry for the disastrous collapse and promised Nigerians that the team(Nigeria) will do their best to win the reverse fixture in Freetown.
The 4-4 draw was the highest-scoring match between both teams since 1976 in a world cup qualifier where Nigeria thrashed Sierra Leone by 6-2.
For Sierra Leone, there might be only one change on Tuesday to the side that forced the Eagles to that surprising 4-4 draw on Friday, with Alhaji Kamara coming into the starting line up after he came off the bench to score a brace, which could earn him a place in the starting lineup of the Leone stars, with the rest of the team unchanged.
For the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Gernot Rohr might be forced to make some changes to the side that collapsed on Friday to Sierra Leone, with Kelechi Iheanacho replacing the ineffective Ahmed Musa, as well as Ola Aina replacing the underperforming Kevin Akpoguma while Paul Onuachu could start ahead of the Victor Osimhen who was replaced in the game in Benin due to injury.
Predicted Starting Lineups
Sierra Leone: Mohamed Kamara, Mustapha Dumbuya, Umaru Banguya, Kevin Wright, Alie Sesay, John Kamara, Rodney Strasser, Kwame Quee, Alhaji Kamara, Mustapha Bundu, Alhassan Koroma.
Nigeria: Maduka Okoye, Leon Balogun, Ola Aina, William Troost Ekong, Zaidu Sanusi, Joe Aribo, Oghenekaro Etebo, Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Paul Onuachu.
A win for Gernot Rohr’s side in Freetown on Tuesday will see them pick the AFCON ticket to Cameroon in 2021.
