Nigeria v Sierra Leone: Match preview, Super Eagles squad list, what to expect, kickoff time

The Super Eagles will play Sierra Leone in the AFCON qualifiers match on Thursday, June 9th, 2022, at the M.K.O Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

This will be the Super Eagles' third game and the first home match under new manager Jose Peseiro.

Allnigeriasoccer.com has all the information you need ahead of the crunch match between the two countries.

Match preview

Nigeria are set to face Sierra Leone in the AFCON 2023 tournament's first-round qualifier.

A win over Sierra Leone would help put Nigeria's qualifications campaign off to a winning start, and the Nigerian team will be hoping to put their consecutive friendly defeats to Mexico and Ecuador behind them.

On Sierra Leone's part, they'll be hoping to build on their impressive 2-1 win over Congo from their last outing and start their 2023 AFCON qualifying campaign strong.

There have been sixteen encounters between Nigeria and Sierra Leone, and the Super Eagles hold a superior head-to-head record of nine victories, while Sierra Leone has won just twice with 5 ending in a draw.

Super Eagles squad list

Goalkeepers (3): Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia); Adewale Adeyinka (Akwa United); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem)

Defenders (10): Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC); William Ekong (Watford FC); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto); Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers); Sani Faisal (Katsina United); Leon Balogun (free agent); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes)

Midfielders (5): Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City); Innocent Bonke (FC Lorient); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC)

Forwards (9): Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal CF); Moses Simon (FC Nantes); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli); Cyriel Dessers (Racing Genk); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria); Terem Moffi (FC Lorient), Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC).

What to expect

An open game with both teams going for each other's throat from the first whistle. Sierra Leone coach John Keister favours a 4-3-3 attacking set-up which is a very effective tactic utilised by the best minds.

Peseiro on the other hand is also an attack-minded coach but also prioritises defensive solidity very much.

Keister lays emphasis on using the half-space effectively and Nigeria must improve drastically in this regard or risk losing the game from the flanks.

Fans can expect an attacking game of football with both teams eager to open the goalscoring.

Kickoff Time/Venue

The 2023 AFCON qualifiers match between Nigeria and Sierra Leone will kick off at exactly 1700 hours Nigerian time at MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

Sofoluwe Mayowa

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