In a poor and shambolic display, Nigeria’s Super Eagles, threw away four goals lead against visiting Sierra Leone to draw 4-4 in 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier played on Friday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo state.
The Super Eagles came into the clash top of the group with a perfect record and opened the scoring as early as the 4th minute.
Alex Iwobi drilled in the first goal, before Victor Osimhen doubled Nigeria’s advantage with a one-time finish.
Iwobi made it 3-0 from long range and Samuel Chukuweze danced his way past a couple of challenges to slot home.
Sierra Leone pulled one back before half-time through Kwame Quee.
In the final 28 minutes of the game, Al-Hadji Kamara scored a brace and Mustapha Bundu also got on the scoresheet, as Sierra Leone grabbed a shock result.
The Leone Stars looked dead and buried after going 4-0 down after only 29 minutes, but they showed superb fighting spirit, going 4-1 down at halftime and scoring three goals in the final 20 minutes of the match to grab a memorable point.
Nigeria were punished for complacency and going to sleep with a healthy cushion, while Sierra Leone fought back to grab a third successive draw in the qualifiers.
It was a substitute’s show in the second half as Alhaji Kamara grabbed a brace off the bench with Mustapha Bundu adding another for John Keister’s charges.
Within the opening half an hour, the Super Eagles had already flown away, scoring four unanswered goals. Iwobi scored his first after just four minutes with a low shot from outside the area after Osimhen was dispossessed as he tried to pull the trigger.
Sierra Leone had a chance to draw level in the 20th minute, when Kei Kamara was gifted of the ball inside the box after Leon Balogun mistimed a clearance, but the forward blasted his effort over with only the keeper to beat.
They were made to pay immediately on the turn with Osimhen scoring the second for Nigeria with a side foot shot from inside the box, finishing off Zaidu Sanusi’s cross from the left.
Super Eagles’ pain of losing a four-goal lead was worsened with top striker Osimhen being stretchered out after picking a wrist injury.
Nigeria remain top of Group L with 7 points, while Benin are second with three points.
