Day of Ignominy: Nigeria Blow 4-0 Lead but hold on to a 4-4 Tie v S/Leone

Benin -- This venue, historically, has not been a good place for Nigeria's national team. Today, it appeared that this was going to change as Nigeria raced into a 4-0 lead over Sierra Leone in an African Cup of Nations qualifying match. The lead seemed insurmountable. After all, since Nigeria began playing internationals in 1949, it is difficult to remember Nigeria ever conceding four goals after going ahead by the same score! Yet it happened! Lowly-ranked Sierra Leone, with internationals strewn all over some poorly known footballing world, came back to stun a star-studded Nigeria n a 4-4 tie.

But this is football. Names, pedigree, and much of that mean very little. What matters is what happens on the football field. To be fair, this was a game Nigeria had no business tying. Nigeria clearly dominated much of this game. This is a game that should have been won going away. However, putting their feet off the pedal cost Nigeria and the shambolic defending plus a disappointing effort by the goalkeeper did vey little to help.

We may gripe about this game. But the reality is that this is a game Nigeria should have long put away. It just did not happen.

The first half was one of pride with Nigeria threatening to annihilate Sierra Leone and it seemed the result will be a goal feast with Iwobi scoring two times and Osimhen and Chukwueze adding the others. 

Yet, the second half was a stark difference.  Akpoguma increasingly felt out place on the wide right of the defense with poor tackles and appearing a tad slow. Balogun, who played assuredly in the opening half, was substituted but his replacement Ajayi was quite poor. His mix up with goalie Okoye led to an unchallenged Sierra Leone goal from a cross in the 7st minute. It was 4-2 but Sierra Leone had, at the time, barely a sniff at Nigeria's goal. 

Yet, it got worse! Okoye's reaction getting down on the third goal was disappointing just four minutes later. 

Then disaster struck! four minutes later another cross and a wide-open goal provided Sierra Leone with the simplest of scores almost on the goal line. The shambolic defending was all there for people to watch. It was jhard to imagine that these were top rated professional footballers in Nigeria's colors in the second half.

No rating given, team adjudged to be poor.

Maduka Okoye (1) -- Kevin Akpohguma (22), Leon Balogun (6) (61st Ajayi (13)), William Ekong (5), Sanusi Saidu (17) -- Etebo Oghenekaro (8) --Samuel Chukwueze (11) (73rd Chidera Ejuke (4)), Joseph Aribo (10), Alex Iwobi (18), Ahmed Musa (cpt -7) (61st Kelechi Iheanacho (14)) -- Victor Osimhen (9)*(73rd Paul Onuachu (19)).


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