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On the 18th of June 2023, the highly anticipated match Between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Leone stars of Sierra Lone took place at the Samuel Doe Stadium in Liberia. The Nigeria Super Eagles showcased their determination and skill by defeating Sierra Leone 3-2 to secure their qualification for the 2024 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire. The game was a rollercoaster of emotions, with moments of brilliance and intense drama that solidified Nigeria’s place in the prestigious tournament.

From the opening whistle, the Super Eagles dominated the game, displaying their attacking prowess and creating numerous opportunities. It was Victor Osimhen the highest goal scorer in the Serie A who broke the deadlock in the 19th minute, finding the back of the net to give Nigeria an early lead. Despite missed chances by Chukwueze and Simon Moses, Osimhen demonstrated his class by doubling the scoreline in the 32nd minute, further emphasizing his status as the top scorer in the qualification campaign with seven goals.

Sierra Leone fought back, and Mustapha Bundu unleashed an emphatic strike in the 41st minute, beating Adebayo Adeleye, the debutant Nigerian goalkeeper, to narrow the deficit. The second half saw a dip in the Super Eagles’ performance, with sloppy passes and a lack of rhythm in midfield, resulting in no shots on goal.

Manager Jose Peseiro made timely substitutions, bringing on Taiwo Awoniyi, Frank Oneyaka, and Kelechi Iheanacho to inject new energy and creativity into the team. However, Sierra Leone took advantage of Nigeria’s temporary disarray, equalizing through a stunning strike by Augustus Kargba in the 81st minute, reigniting their hopes of securing a victory that would keep their qualification dreams alive.

With time running out, the Super Eagles rallied, and in the 95th minute, Iheanacho found himself in the right place at the right time, tapping in an exquisite pass from Zaidu Sanusi to secure a late winner, ensuring Nigeria’s qualification and extinguishing Sierra Leone’s hopes.

Nigeria’s victory against Sierra Leone confirmed their place in Group A, emerging as group leaders with 12 points from five matches. They are closely followed by Guinea-Bissau, who secured automatic qualification as a result of the game’s outcome. Unfortunately, Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe will sit out the AFCON 2024 tournament, ending their qualification campaign with 5 and 1 points respectively.

The Super Eagles join 12 other countries that have already booked their spots for the highly anticipated AFCON 2024. With a rich AFCON history, having won the tournament three times, Nigeria aims to reclaim their title and bring glory to the nation. After failing to qualify for two consecutive editions, they made a comeback in 2019, finishing in third place. In the previous edition held in Cameroon in 2021, Nigeria reached the round of 16 before exiting the competition.

Nigeria’s hard-fought victory over Sierra Leone has sealed their qualification for the AFCON 2024 tournament in Cote d’Ivoire. The thrilling encounter showcased the Super Eagles’ resilience, individual brilliance, and collective determination. As the team looks ahead to the tournament, Nigerian football fans are filled with hope and anticipation, eager to witness their beloved Super Eagles soar to new heights and potentially add another AFCON trophy to their illustrious collection.