Eagles qualify for Cote D’Ivoire after Sierra Leone victory

Super Eagles breathed a sigh of relief at the blast of the final whistle after they withstood a late onslaught from Sierra Leone to qualify for the 2023 AFCON following a last-gasp 3-2 victory in their matchday 5 qualifier yesterday.
Defender Zaidu Sanusi burst through the Sierra Leone defence with a slaloming run to set up substitute Kelechi Iheanacho to score from about one inch out in added time to snatch all three points for Nigeria after Sierra Leone had pegged back the three-time African champions.
Striker Victor Osimhen had put Jose Peseiro’s side two goals up at the half-hour mark with his 16th and 17th goals for Nigeria, and it appeared the Eagles were on their way to a straightforward win.
But Mustapha Bundu pulled one back for the Leone Stars just before half time, before Augustus Kargbo restored parity for the hosts with an unstoppable drive from outside the area to conjure up memories of the 2020 encounter between both sides when Sierra Leone snatched a draw from four goals down.
The Sierra Leoneans had decent chances to claim all three points at the Samuel Kanyon Doe stadium in Monrovia, where the game was played, for want of a suitable ground in Sierra Leone, but debutant goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye kept the Eagles in it before Sanusi’s inspired run and Iheanacho’s finish spared Nigeria’s blushes.