Nigeria’s Super Eagles have qualified for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after Lesotho and Sierra Leone drew 0-0 in Group L.
Even before a ball was kicked in their qualifier against Benin Republic, the West African giants had already secured their berth in Cameroon due to the results elsewhere guarantying the Super Eagles a top-two finish in the group.
The three-time African champions ended Benin Republic’s eight-year unbeaten home run with a 1-0 win over the Squirrels.
Nigeria got a well-deserved last-minute winner as Paul Onuachu, who came in as a substitute, headed the ball home after a bubble in the box.
The Super Eagles, who have now qualified for next year’s AFCON, will then take on the Crocodiles of Lesotho on Tuesday at the Teslim Balogun stadium in Lagos.
Nigeria has eight points, Benin seven, Sierra Leone four and Lesotho three. The countries finishing first and second qualify for the 24-team tournament in Cameroon next January.
Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia and Zimbabwe have qualified, leaving seven places to be filled.
By Abel Ejikeme
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