Nigeria vs Sierra Leone...CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Nigeria will try to maintain their perfect start to qualifying for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations when they meet Sierra Leone in Group L on Friday.
In comparison, the visitors are at the bottom of the group after earning only one point out of six available during the first round of qualifying last year.
The coronavirus epidemic has decimated the athletic calendar, with a year between Nigeria’s first and third AFCON 2022 qualifiers.
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Nigeria started their qualification group with back-to-back wins over Benin and Lesotho last November. Sierra Leone hopes to avoid being the Super Eagles’ third victim this Friday.
Victor Osimhen has scored three goals in Nigeria’s first two matches, scoring from the penalty spot against Benin and twice against Lesotho.
Gernot Rohr’s side played for the first time since last month’s six-goal thriller, although they lost 1-0 to 2019 AFCON champions Algeria and drew 1-1 with Tunisia.
A win today would go a great way toward making a claim for a berth in the 2022 tournament, as well as give the Super Eagles unbounded confidence before they tackle Sierra Leone again a few days later.
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Sierra Leone hasn’t qualified for the AFCON since 1996, but John Keister’s side are in trouble with four games remaining in Group L.
Jane Thabantso scored in injury time to cancel out Kwame Quee’s opening, as Keister’s team fell 1-0 to Benin on matchday two.
Sierra Leone’s playing time has been limited by the COVID-19 epidemic, and the Leone Stars did not prepare well for November’s game after losing to Mauritania and Niger last month.
Wilfred Ndidi misses out with an adductor injury, while Kelechi Iheanacho is in the squad.
Alex Iwobi, Semi Ajayi, and Joe Aribo return after missing last month’s friendly.
Samuel Kalu and Moses Simon are injured and not picked, while goalkeeper Sebastian Osigwe is the sole uncapped player.
Kei Kamara will start up front for Sierra Leone after reversing his retirement decision.
Captain Umaru Bangura, who just recovered from COVID-19, will play on Friday.
