Nigeria will be looking to restore some pride and hopefully secure a spot at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast as they face Sierra Leone for the second time in the qualifiers on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Super Eagles battle the Leone Stars on match-day five of the AFCON qualifiers at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium in Liberia on June 18.
The Eagles won the last encounter between the two sides 2-1 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on June 9, 2022.
A victory for Nigeria on Sunday will see the three-time African champions qualify for next year’s AFCON billed to hold in Ivory Coast.
The Eagles are currently second on the log after Guinea-Bissau secured a 1-0 win over Sao Tome and Principe on Thursday to move top of the table with 10 points.
Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, has put together a very strong squad ahead of the forthcoming game against the Leone Stars as he hopes to return the team back to the top of the group.
Sierra Leone head coach John Keister has several key players missing but he equally has in his possession players good enough to disrupt the Eagles’ rhythm and probably snatch a win.
One of these few players is one Idris Kanu, who plays for Barnet, in the fifth tier division in England.
While he may have made a miserly two appearances for the Leone Stars, Kanu is an intelligent midfielder with goalscoring ability.
The 23-year-old made 37 appearances for Barnet in the National League, scoring eight goals.
Unknown to many, Kanu could wreak havoc if the Eagles defence doesn’t pay attention to him.
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