By Kabs Kanu
The much-underrated Leone Stars of Sierra Leone staged one of the greatest and most dramatic rearguard actions ever in football history in Benin City, Nigeria last Friday to come back from 0-4 down to force an unbelievable 4-4 draw with the highly rated and overwhelming favorites , Super Eagles of Nigeria in an epic African Nations Cup.
The result stunned the soccer world , rattled Nigeria and left that nation frightened that another huge elimination from the African Nations Cup is looming, with both countries clashing again in the second leg in Freetown on Tuesday.
Dramatically, many Sierra Leoneans watching the match on social media spewed insulting words on the Leone Stars when the game started and Nigeria started piling in goal after goal and they were leading 4-0 before halftime. Even when winger Kwame Quee pulled back one goal before the break, the insults did not cease.
But Leone Stars had a big surprise for the world and their countrymen in the second half. They turned the table on the Nigerians completely and brilliantly wiped out the lead, even coming close to beating the Nigerians.
ESPN reported that “Angry fans demonstrated outside the stadium after the game forcing Nigeria’s team to spend several hours in their changing room before being able to leave. ”
THIS WAS HOW SOME NIGERIAN NEWSPAPERS REPORTED THE STORY
AFCON qualifier: Sierra Leone stage comeback to draw Eagles 4-4 in Benin
ohnny Edward and ‘Tosin Oluwalowo
Sierra Leone staged a remarkable comeback to draw 4-4 against the Super Eagles in Friday’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin on Friday.
The three-time African Champions got on to a fine start but crumbled in the second half of the game.
The Eagles raced into a four-goal lead before the half-hour mark through a brace from Alex Iwobi and strikes from Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze.
The Eagles dominated the opening minutes of the encounter and made their effort count in the fourth minute when Iwobi fired in a tame strike from the edge of the box to give Gernot Rohr’s side the lead.
Kei Kamara had a chance to restore parity for the Leone Stars in the 18th minute but failed to score.
Immediately after Kamara’s big miss, Nigeria doubled their advantage through Osimhen who poked in Zaidu Sanusi’s delightful low cross in the 22nd minute.
Iwobi grabbed his second goal of the game and the third for Nigeria of the game in the 27th minute curling in a shot from 30 yards after strings from crisp passes between Musa and Osimhen.
Chukwueze made it 4-0 two minutes later when he latched on to a flick pass from Osimhen and raced through on goal beating his marker before scoring.
Quame Quee reduced the deficit for the Leone Stars in the 41st. Kamara robbed Chukwueze of the ball in the midfield and played a perfect pass for Quee to score. The strike means the Eagles have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five games.
In the second half, the Eagles failed to replicate their dominance conceding three goals in the last 20 minutes of the encounter.
Sierra Leone coach John Keister brought on Alhaji Kamara and Rodney Strasser for Alie Sesay and John Kamara respectively and the pair made an instant impact scoring in the 72nd and 81st minute.
Mustapha Bundu grabbed a late equaliser for the Leone Stars four minutes from time.
Despite the draw, the Eagles still lead Group L with seven points from three games while the Leone Stars now have two points from three games.
THE PUNCH
Nigeria’s Super Eagles throw away four-goal lead against Sierra Leone
The Super Eagles of Nigeria blew a four-goal lead to settle for a disappointing 4-4 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on Friday at the new Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State.
Four goals in the opening half-hour of Friday’s tie initially gave many the belief that the Eagles may be securing a record win against their West African neighbours.
However, that was not the case as the Leone Stars fought their way to deservedly secure a 4-4 draw against the three-time African champions.
It was Alex Iwobi that opened the flood gates of goals in the 4th minute before Victor Osimhen doubled the lead.
The Everton midfielder made it 3-0 in the 27th minute and then Samuel Chukwueze increase the tally three minutes afterward.
When Kwame Quee reduced the deficit to 4-1 late in the first half, many saw it just as a face-saving goal but it turned out to be crucial as it gave the visitors the push for a revival in the second half.
In the second half, substitutes Al-Hadji Kamara and Mustapha Bundu turned the tables as the duo combined to get the three goals that saw the Leone Stars force a 4-4 draw.
While the draw by Nigeria was bad in itself, a nasty injury by Osimhen makes it even worse for the Super Eagles.
Despite the loss, the Eagles are still top in Group L with seven points from three games while the Leone Stars are now third on the group with two points.
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