Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Sunday booked their place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast with a hard fought 3-2 win over Sierra Leone at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia, abbeylivenetwork.com reports.
The Super Eagles put their selves upfront in the 19th minute when Napoli striker Osimhen dinked the ball above the onrushing Sierra Leone goalkeeper.
The three-time African champions were denied a chance to double the goals nine minutes later but his shot from the edge of the box was deflected for a corner kick.
Osimhen then doubled the lead in the 32nd minute albeit that did not stop Sierra Leone from making incursions into the Nigerian goal area especially from the right side of the defence.
Four minutes before halftime, Mustapha Bundu halved the deficit for the Leone Stars. Accelerating onto a through-ball, Bundu outpaced Omeruo before unleashing a well-placed shot, denying Adeleye a clean sheet on his debut.
Wilfred Ndidi had the last chance of the half for the Eagles, but he blasted his shot wide over the post from just inside the area.
Sierra Leone returned from the half-time break on the high, pinning Nigeria back in their own half. But Simon and Osimhen continued to offer the Super Eagles an attacking threat on the counter.
Sierra Leone came close to equalising for 2-2, but Nigeria goalkeeper Adeleye reacted quickly to push the ball away.
Augustus Kargbo made it 2-2 for Sierra Leone with six minutes left on the clock with a shot from outside the box.
The Super Eagles however claimed all three points in added time when Kelechi Iheanacho popped home the ball after a mazy run and low cross by Zaidu Sanusi.
With the win, the Super Eagles return to the top of Group A with 12 points from five games. The three-time Africa champions are through to the 2023 Afcon despite having to play their last match on home soil against Sao Tome and Principe.
