By 7 pm today, Nigeria’s Super Eagles are expected to have emerged one of the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which holds next year – from 13th January to 11th February in five Ivorien cities (six venues). That will be the 34th edition of the continent’s flagship football competition, and Nigeria’s 20th appearance in the finals, if the José Peseiro’s men do not succumb to Sierra Leone in Liberia tonight.
It’s Matchday 5 of Group A qualifiers for AFCON 2023 and Guinea-Bissau are sitting on top in the section. After beating bottom-placed São Tomé and Principe 1-0 last Wednesday, the Central African side shot ahead of the pack with 10 points from five matches, trailed by Nigeria which have a point less but have played a game less.
At the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Liberia, where Sierra play their home matches, the Leone Stars know that they must triumph, otherwise the quest for AFCON 2023 is over. And they have not been to the competition since 1996!
In the first leg in Abuja about a year ago (9th June), Alex Iwobi (16th) and Victor Osimhen (41st) had to rescue the Eagles 2-1 after Jonathan Morsay’s 11th minute strike silenced the fans.
Four days later, the three-time African champions recorded a convincing 10-0 win over São Tomé at the Stade Adrar in Morocco.
Jose Peseiro’s men would go on a run of four defeats on the bounce, having lost to Algeria, Costa Rica and Portugal in three successive friendly matches, before falling to a disappointing 0-1 to Guinea-Bissau in their return to the AFCON qualifiers in 24th March in Abuja.
Three days after suffering the shock defeat at home, a first-half Moses Simon strike from the penalty spot helped the Eagles return to winning ways in the second game of their group double-header against the Djurtus.
Peseiro’s men head into the game with so much confidence having failed to lose to the Leone Stars in their six meetings — winning four and claiming two draws — and have lost just two of their last 17 encounters since April 1961.
On their own part, Sierra Leone are motivated heading into the game knowing full well that a win will put their AFCON dreams back on track.
After a poor start to their qualifying campaign, Sierra Leone have turned their fortunes around and put themselves in contention for a place in Côte d’Ivoire 2023.
Following their group opener defeat to Nigeria, Keister’s men fought back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw against 10-man Guinea Bissau on home soil.
The Leone Stars returned to action in the qualifiers on 22nd March when they came from behind twice to force a 2-2 draw with São Tomé, four days before edging out Adriano Eusebio’s men 2-0 in the second of their double-header at the Adrar Stadium.
Third in the group and four points adrift of second-placed Nigeria, a victory will see Sierra Leone close the gap and have all to play for in their last qualifier against Guinea Bissau.
Peseiro invited the attacking trio of Iwobi, Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho but all eyes will be on Osimhen, who fired Napoli to their first Italian Serie A title since 1990, and the 24-year-old will be looking to add to his 15 international goals.
Ahmed Musa, who is Nigeria’s most-capped player with 108 senior appearances, should be named on the bench.
Peseiro invited the attacking trio of Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho but all eyes will be on Victor Osimhen, who fired Napoli to their first Italian Serie A title since 1990, and the 24-year-old will be looking to add to his 15 international goals.
Musa, who is Nigeria’s most-capped player with 108 senior appearances, is expected to be named on the bench.
