Nigeria trade tackles with Sierra Leone in a few hours in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Stadium in Abuja in what is the 17th meeting between the two West African nations.
The Super Eagles have claimed nine victories and suffered only two losses to the Leone Stars, with five other matches ending in a draw.
The last visit of the Sierra Leonean national team is probably the most exciting encounter between the two.
Led by former head coach Gernot Rohr, the Eagles flew into a four-goal lead within the opening half-hour but somehow took their foot off the throttle and stumbled to a disappointing 4-4 draw.
An 8️⃣-goal thriller in the last #TotalEnergiesAFCON qualifier between Nigeria and Sierra Leone. 🎯
— CAF (@CAF_Online) June 9, 2022
As the two sides come up against each other again, who will clinch the victory this time? 👀 #TotalEnergiesAFCONQ2023 | @NGSuperEagles | @SLFA_SL pic.twitter.com/JJnPXO2G9d
In that game week three clash of the 2022 Afcon qualifying campaign on November 13, 2020, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Alex Iwobi shot the Eagles in front with a snapshot from outside of the box.
Victor Osimhen doubled the home team’s lead in the 21st minute before another Iwobi drive made it three-nil.
It was four goals to the Super Eagles, all within the opening thirty minutes after a fine Chukwueze run and smart finish.
But that was as best as it got for Nigeria as Kwame Quee got one back for the visitors shortly before the interval.
The Super Eagles completely collapsed in the second half as a Kamara brace and another effort from Bundu brought the Leone Stars back on levelled terms, stunning their more illustrious foes.
Nigeria and Sierra Leone met four days later and played out a goalless draw in Freetown. Both teams eventually qualified for the Afcon in Cameroon early this year.
