Africa Cup of Nations: Sierra Leone stages four-goal comeback to hold Nigeria

Sierra Leone came from four goals down to hold Nigeria to a 4-4 draw in a dramatic Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Benin City.

Nigeria has seven points from three games and remains top of Group L. - GETTY IMAGES (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

Sierra Leone came from four goals down to hold Nigeria to a 4-4 draw in a dramatic Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Benin City as the preliminaries for the 2022 finals continued on Friday.

Tunisia kept its 100 percent record in the qualifiers with a 1-0 home victory over Tanzania, while Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech scored twice as it beat Central African Republic 4-1 but South Africa struggled before winning 2-0 at home to Sao Tome e Principe.

Nigeria raced into a 4-0 lead inside the first half-hour as Alex Iwobi scored twice, the first in the fourth minute, and Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze added two more.

But Kwame Quee pulled one back for Sierra Leone four minutes before the break after which the visitor staged a remarkable recovery with Alhaji Kamara scoring twice in between Mustapha Bundu’s effort all in the final 18 minutes to draw.

Angry fans demonstrated outside the stadium after the game forcing Nigeria’s team to spend several hours in its changing room before being able to leave.

Nigeria top of Group L

Nigeria remains top of Group L with seven points from three games while Sierra Leone moved off the bottom on two.

Ziyech’s double, including a penalty, plus goals from Achraf Hakimi and debutant Zakaria Aboukhlal allowed Morocco to enjoy a comfortable win over Central African Republic in Casablanca.

Penalties proved decisive in Friday’s other four qualifiers.

Incredible!

It's a day to remember for Sierra Leonean football as the Leone Stars come from 4 goals down to draw 4-4 with Nigeria in CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifyingpic.twitter.com/PSfsxbB175

— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) November 13, 2020

 

Tunisia has nine points from three games in Group J after captain Youssef Msaknis first half spot kick saw it to a narrow win over Tanzania in Tunis.

Mali joined Guinea at the top of Group A after its 1-0 home win over Namibia in Bamako, with teenager El Bilal Toure netting a 38th-minute penalty.

South Africa also needed a spot kick to help it avoid embarrassment against Sao Tome, a country with a population of just 200,000 and ranked 182nd in world football. Percy Tau converted the penalty after 55 minutes in the Group C game, with Bongani Zungu adding a second with a header from a corner in the last minute to ensure victory in Durban.

Earlier on Friday, Niger’s Youssouf Oumarou netted a 74th minute penalty which proved enough to beat Ethiopia 1-0 in Niamey as it picked up its first points in Group K.