Nigeria blow 4-goal lead to draw 4-4 with Sierra Leone

 

A four-goal haul inside the opening 30 minutes was no enough to secure Nigeria three points in their Group L African Cup of Nations Qualifier against Sierra Leone as they were pegged back to draw 4-4 in Benin City.

The Eagles looked set for a romp after Alex Iwobi’s fourth minute opener was followed by quickfire strikes from Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze either side of Iwobi’s second.

The overawed visitors got a glimmer of hope just before the interval when Kwame Quee slotted past Okoye Maduka in Nigeria’s goal.

It was a largely scrappy affair until the withdrawal of Leon Balogun after the hour mark following an injury, leaving the Eagles defence in tatters.

Al-Hadji Kamara got a brace – including a thumping header to trigger the comeback – and Mustapha Bundu fired in from the edge of the area as the visitors pulled off a memorable result that left Nigerians wondering what hit them.

Both sides meet again in Freetown on Tuesday for the second leg of the double header.