By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday, 18 June, 2023 booked a place in the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 3-2 win over Sierra Leone in their Group A clash at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Monrovia, Liberia.
The victory over Sierra Leone pushed Nigeria to the top of Group A with 12 points from five matches.
Before the match, Guinea-Bissau led the group with 10 points after their 1-0 win over Sao Tome and Principe.
Nigeria qualifies for 2023 AFCON following 3-2 win over Sierra Leone
Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro started the match with the attacking trio of in-form Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and Moses Simon.
He also preferred the backline paring over Kenneth Omeruo and Semilore Ajayi as Willam Troost-Ekong was benched.
Napoli star, Victor Osimhen gave the Super Eagles the lead in the match with a first-half brace. He first scored in the 19th minute with a chip over Sierra Leone goalkeeper Ibrahim Sesay, following a long ball from centre-back and captain of the day, Kenneth Omeruo.
Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze missed the chance to double Nigeria’s lead in the 27th minute shooting straight at Sesay after he was put through on goal by Osimhen.
The Napoli star got his seventh goal of the qualifiers two minutes after. He was able to push through after Sierra Leone’s defence failed to clear the ball inside the area following a Moses Simon cross.
Sierra Leone got a breather following goals from Mustapha Bundu and Augustine Kargbo.
Nigeria was able to grab the match’s 3 points with Leicester City star, Kelechi Iheanacho’s stoppage-time goal.
While Guinea-Bissau has also qualified for next year’s AFCON, Sierra Leone (five points) and Sao Tome (one point) have been eliminated from the qualifiers’ competition.
Nigeria will round up their qualifiers’ campaign with a match against Sao Tome in September.
