Sierra Leone Vs Nigeria: 2023 AFCON qualifier Match Preview
Sierra Leone is billed to face Nigeria in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations – AFCON Qualifiers matchday five clash. SPORTSRATION presents the match preview.
MATCH DETAILS
Type of Competition: 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match
Round: Group A Matchday five
Fixture: Sierra Leone Vs Nigeria
Venue: Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium, Monrovia, Liberia
Time: 5pm
Date: Sunday June 18, 2023
HEAD TO HEAD
At full international level, Sierra Leone and Nigeria have clashed 17-times since April 1961. The Super Eagles of Nigeria boss the stats and have only lost on two occasions to the Leone Stars ahead of their 18th meeting.
THE MATCH
Sierra Leone are condemned to win this penultimate AFCON qualification match vs Nigeria to keep hopes of participating at the 2023 Cup of Nations alive.
Guinea-Bissau occupy top-spot in group A with 10 points with Nigeria a point and a place after with 9 points. Sierra Leone are third with 5 points with Sao Tome and Principe the basement side.
A point vs Sierra Leone will secure qualification for the Super Eagles and Guinea-Bissau with one matchday to spare.
John Keister tutored Sierra Leone are well aware of the task at hand and will dare their more illustrious opponents for maximum points in Monrovia on Sunday evening.
In the first leg, Nigeria came from behind to defeat Sierra Leone 2-1 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
Jonathan Morsay had fired the Leone stars in front but Alex Iwobi and Victor Osimhen scored to win the matchday one clash for Nigeria.
Sierra Leone will head into this game with a depleted squad due to suspensions and injuries. John Keister will bank on the experience of former Tottenham Hotspurs mam Steven Caulker and Anderlecht forward Mustapha Bundu in a 25-man squad that includes 15 home based players.
For Jose Peseiro and Nigeria, it is a star-studded 23-player contingent for the match. Forwards Victor Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi and Samuel Chukwueze head into this game, high in confidence from spectacular performances in the recently concluded European season.
PREDICTED STARTING XI
Sierra Leone: M Kamara; Samadia, Caulker, Samara, Barrie; Conteh, Dumbuya, Koroma; Williams, N Kamara, Kargbo
Nigeria: Adeleye; Sanusi, Troost-Ekong, Akpoguma, Osayi-samuel, Onyeka, Iwobi, Chukwueze, Lookman, Awoniyi, Osimhen
SPORTSRATION SAYS
A very tough game expected. Nigeria will start as favourites to win and secure a spot at the 2023 AFCON. We say Sierra Leone 0-2 Nigeria.
