AFCON 2021 Qualifiers: Sierra Leone frustrate Nigeria in barren draw
Sierra Leone’s Leone Stars once again proved a thorn in the side of Nigeria’s Super Eagles after playing out a 0-0 draw in their Group L Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Stadium in Freetown on Tuesday evening.
The Leone Stars notably fought back from four goals down to draw 4-4 when the teams met last week and showed a similar spirit to register this goalless stalemate on home soil.
Sierra Leone 0 – 0 Nigeria 😔. We win, draw and lose together 🙏.
•
Wishing the players a safe return to their respective clubs 🙏.
•#supereagles #nigeria #sierraleone #slenga #afconqualifiers pic.twitter.com/2DZIRq7XMd— Dr. Kelechi Anyikude (@KelechiAFC) November 17, 2020
The result leaves the Super Eagles top of the standings on eight points, with Benin (seven), Sierra Leone (three) and Lesotho (two) all still alive as far as qualification for Cameroon 2022 is concerned.
Nigeria offered their first threat at goal in the third minute, with Kelechi Iheanacho shooting on target direct from a free kick, though his effort was no trouble for Sierra Leone goalkeeper Mohamed Kamara.
The Super Eagles had another chance on 16 minutes when Samuel Chukwueze curled an effort just wide of the mark, before the Leone Stars had their first chance through Alhaji Kamara, who was denied by a fine save from Maduka Okoye.
🇸🇱Sierra Leone 0-0 Nigeria 🇳🇬
Nothing to separate the two sides!
Who was your Man of the Match? 🤔👇
📸: @NGSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/HuR90Tr5v6
— Goal South Africa (@GoalcomSA) November 17, 2020
The visitors suffered an injury blow a few minutes before the interval when midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo limped off and was replaced by Shehu Abdullahi. The halftime whistle saw the teams locked at 0-0 – a far cry from the eight-goal thriller they produced last Friday night.
Nigeria again created the better chances after the restart, with Iheanacho shooting high and wide on 51 minutes after great set-up play from Chukwueze, while the Leicester City striker found the back of the net just after the hour mark but had been flagged offside.
📸 Shots from the first half. #soarsupereagles #Team9jaStrong #SLENGA pic.twitter.com/YKs2ryfIvr
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) November 17, 2020
Read Also: #AFCON2021Q: Nigeria vs starting XI vs Sierra Leone out
Midway through the second half the Super Eagles threatened again when Alex Iwobi shot just over from long range, with Gernot Rohr’s team beginning to build some consistent pressure in attack.
However, the hosts’ defence stood firm – with some help from goalkeeper Kamara, who made another fine save on 82 minutes when he parried away Iheanacho’s shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Sierra Leone 0
Nigeria 0
Sierra Leone: Mohamed Kamara, Mohamed Buya Turay, Mustapha Dumbuya (Osman Kaykay 81’), Yeami Dunia, Alhaji Kamara (Alhassan Koroma 76’), Kei Kamara, Medo, Kwame Quee, Rodney Strasser (Mustapha Bundu 56’), Abu Suma, Kevin Wright
Nigeria: Maduka Okoye, Ola Aina, Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong, Kevin Akpoguma (Chidozie Awaziem 74’), Joe Aribo (Semi Ajayi 84’), Oghenekaro Etebo (Shehu Abdullahi 39’), Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa, Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Iheanacho (Emmanuel Dennis 84’)