Lucky Super Eagles Escape Defeat From Leone Stars In Benin
By Ben Ogbemudia
…….. Played 4-4 in African Cup of Nations.
Nigeria unbelievably lost a four goal lead in the first half to a boastful Leone Stars.
In the match monitored in Abuja, Nigeria’s Super Eagles Friday evening failed to fly playing 4-4 with the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin in Nigeria in the African Cup of Nations 2020qualifier.
It was a terrible day for Nigeria who celebrated victory at half time when score board read Nigeria 4 Sierra Leone 1.
Iwobi had a brace scoring 4th minute and 29th minute; Victor Osimhen scored 21st minute while Chuwueze found the net in 29th minute before Kwame pulled one back for the Leone Stars in 41st minute.
Coach Rhor made some changes pulling out captain Ahmed Musa for Ihenacho, Semilogo Ajayi came in for Leon Balogun while Osimhen was injured but the summary was that Nigeria had a terrible second half coming out lucky that the Leone Stars did not roast them alive.
The Leone Stars became much more confident in the second half with Alhaji Camara getting a brace after the Stars second goal came by a stupefying header via a corner kick as Nigeria’s defenders played like charmed or pregnant players being flatfooted.
It was mother Luck that played out the Leone Stars as they would have erased their record of never getting a win against Nigeria anywhere on Nigerian soil but in this 15th encounter head to head, this is the 4th draw with 2 wins to Sierra Leone and 9 wins to Nigeria.
A hint to Nigeria’s dilemma flashed at 69th minute water break as the Nigerian’s showed they labored under the yoke of the Benin heat. Even the Center Referee gulped his water at a remarkable space.
Sierra Leone who were bottom of the group celebrated as if they had won the trophy. They have never gone beyond group stages as Sierra Leone only qualified in 1994 when Nigeria won the trophy in North Africa and 1996.
Nigeria won the trophy in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
Nigeria’s qualification is shaky after sharing the points but the reverse game at Siaka Stevens Stadium on Tuesday 17th November at 1700 hours will determine many things. It was the first time the Super Eagles were playing on Nigerian soil in the last one year.
Yesterday, Uganda Cranes defeated South Sudan 1-0; Ghana beat Sudan 2-0; Zambia outplayed Bostwana 2-1; Congo defeated Eswatini 2-0; Ivory Coast beat Madagascar 2-1; Cameroon thrashed Mozambique 4-1; Cape Verde played goaless with Rwanda; Gabon narrowly defeated Gambia 2-1; Algeria slamed Zimbabwe 3-1and Burkina Faso beat Malawi 3-1.
