Leadership (Abuja)
Asuelimen Osasuyi
12 October 2008
Invincible Super Eagles yesterday defeated Sierra Leone 4 - 1in the 2010 African Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup qualifier match played at the sixty thousand capacity Abuja National Stadium.
Udinese midfield mestro, Christian Obodo put Nigeria ahead in the 19th minutes of the first half during a goal mouth scrabble while the second goal came from Inter Milan of Italy Striker, Nsofor Victor Obinna in the 35th minutes when he converted a pass from Kalu Uche.
Osaze Odenwingie scored the third goal at the dot of 45 minutes of the first half to make it three (3) for the Nigeria side.
Meanwhile, a mixed up from Everton defender, Joseph Yobo and Bolton Wanderer strong man, Dany Shitu resulted in an own goal scored by Yobo in the 32nd minutes of first half.
Chidi Odia who won the Peak man of the match with a price tag of 5,000US dollars scored the 4th goal, in the 55th minutes of the second half, with a powerful shot from outside the 18 yards box after a solo run from the midfield.
Although, the Sierra Leonians mounted much pressure in the second half, their effort was over powered following the injection of Joseph Akpala, who replaced Obinna Nsofor in the 70th minutes and Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke who came in for Osaze Odewingie in the 71st minutes of play.
Everton top striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni replaced Getafe of Spain striker, Uche Ikechukwu who won the Tom Tom most valuable player of the match with a price sum of 3,000 US-dollars.
With the Super Eagles 4 - 1 bashing of Mohammed Kallon led Sierra Leone squad, Nigeria has maintained a 100 per cent record as the only team in Group 4 to win all their matches with only one goal conceded.
The Super Eagles beat Sierra Leone 1 - 0 during the first leg in Free Town, defeated South Africa 3 - 0 at home and 1-0 away, humbled Equitorial Guinea 1 - 0 away and 3 - 0 at the National Stadium, Abuja.
Coach of the Sierra Leonian national team, Hamed Kanu said that he lost to a better side, but that he had come to Nigeria to pick a draw.
"I lost four of my good players and I have to use what I got. I know Nigeria was going to win because of the array of stars in the team. They deserved to win because our midfield collapsed and we did not play well. Besides, the willingness was not there. I lack a strong bench. The second goal killed our zeal. I congratulate Nigeria".
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