.Beat S’Leone 3-2
By Valentine Amanze
The Nigeria’s senior football team, the Super Eagles, have qualified for the African Nations Cup (AFCON) tournament to be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire in 2024.
The team grabbed the ticket in the Samuel Doe Stadium , Monrovia, Liberia by beating the host, Sierra Leone, 3-2 on Sunday.
Super Eagles and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, took the stage by storm, scoring two goals in a space of 10 minutes – 20th and 30th minutes.
However, the S’Leoneans pulled one back, when their skipper, Mustapha Bundu, dribbled pass Nigeria’s panicky mid-field and defence in the 41st minute.
At the resumption of the second half, the S’Leoneans struck again after Osimhen had been withdrawn as a result of injury.
The ineffectiveness of Joe Aribo in the mid-field and Ndidi in the central defence put so much pressure on Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Adebayo Adeleye, who plays in Israel.
But when the manager, Hussien Pesero, changed Samuel Chukwueze, who never showed class in the game, and Aribo, the Super Eagles started flying again.
Also read: Portugal beat Nigeria 4-0 in international friendly
Kelechi Iheanacho replaced Aribo in the second half and gave Nigeria the winning goal in the 92nd minute, when he connected well with Sanusi.
With the result, Nigeria now leads the Group A with 12 points, while Guinea Bissau also qualified with 10 points.
Both Nigeria and Guinea Bissau have one outstanding match each to play in September.
S’Leone play their home matches in Liberia because of poor pitches at home. valoa2000@yahoo.com
valoa2000@yahoo.com
