German Gernot Rohr said the Super Eagles must be wary of the visiting Leone Stars of Sierra Leone as they open their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group An account today at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
The Super Eagles under Rohr in 2020, played out two energetic drawn matches against the Leone Stars in the qualifying tournament for the Cameroon 2021 AFCON with the game in Benin City ending dramatically 4-4 draw after the visitors pulled their chestnuts from the fire and bounced from an imminent 4-1 defeat. The second leg in Freetown did not produce a winner either as they both settled for a goalless draw.
Yesterday meeting was the 12th between the two West African sides as the Super Eagles aim for their first victory under new coach Jose Peseiro.
The Portuguese have recorded two losses in as many friendly matches against Mexico (2-1) and Ecuador (1-0) and Rohr warned the Super Eagles must be ready to a tough task against the battle-hardened Leone Stars who impressed at the Cameroon 2021 after holding both Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire.
“The Eagles know that there is no easy game in Africa,” noted the former Bayern Munich defender. “Sierra Leone made a good AFCON and cannot be underrated.”
Incidentally, the Super Eagles are searching for their first win since that 2-0 defeat of Guinea-Bissau in their Preliminary AFCON 2021 Group D at the Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua on 19th January.
Apart from losing to Tunisia (1-0) at the AFCON, the Super Eagles drew twice against Black Stars of Ghana in Qatar 2022 Play-Off ties with a goalless in Tema and a1-1 draw in Abuja that cost Nigeria the ticket to the Mundial coupled with the recent losses to Mexico and Ecuador.
But Rohr noted the recent setback should be an additional motivation for the Super eagles to bury the ghost of the visitors.
“After five games without victory, they (super Eagles) should be very hungry to win the match,” noted the former Bordeaux manager.
Nigeria vs: Sierra Leone: head-to-head
Date Match Result Competition
22 Apr 1961 Sierra Leone v Nigeria W 2-4 International Friendly
27 Jan 1968 Nigeria v Sierra Leone W 4-1 International Friendly
16 Oct 1976 Sierra Leone v Nigeria D 0-0 FIFA World Cup
30 Oct 1976 Nigeria v Sierra Leone W 6-2 FIFA World Cup
28 Feb 1977 Sierra Leone v Nigeria D 1-1 Africa Cup of Nations
28 Feb 1977 Nigeria v Sierra Leone W 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations
27 Oct 1979 Sierra Leone v Nigeria D 0-0 International Friendly
04 Jul 1987 Nigeria v Sierra Leone W 3-0 Africa Cup of Nations
18 Jul 1987 Sierra Leone v Nigeria L 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations
17 Jun 2000 Nigeria v Sierra Leone W 2-0 FIFA World Cup
21 Apr 2001 Sierra Leone v Nigeria L 1-0 FIFA World Cup
07 Jun 2008 Sierra Leone v Nigeria W 0-1 FIFA World Cup
11 Oct 2008 Nigeria v Sierra Leone W 4-1 FIFA World Cup
09 Feb 2011 Nigeria v Sierra Leone W 2-1 International Friendly
13 Nov 2020 Nigeria v Sierra Leone D 4-4 Africa Cup of Nations
17 Nov 2020 Sierra Leone v Nigeria D 0-0 Africa Cup of Nations
