Nigeria vs Sierra Leone Prediction & Betting Tips - AFCON

Prediction published on 12/11/2020, 06:47  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 14/11/2020 at 10:36 in Football Predictions

Nigeria top group L in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. They hold a three point lead over Benin and host bottom of the group Sierra Leone, who have just one point. Nigeria have a great record in this competition. The last 12 times they have reached the finals, only once have they failed to make the last four and lifted the trophy three times, the last victory being in 2013. So far in this group, they have beaten Benin 2-1 at home and Lesotho 4-2 away. They had to come from behind in both of those matches. Their most recent game was a home draw with Tunisia. Nigeria have only lost one of their last six games, though they have gone two at home without a win but against stronger opposition than that they face in this match. Only one of their last eight home qualifiers in this competition has been lost and that was three years ago.

Sierra Leone are bottom of the group and have a lot of work to do to qualify. They are only three points behind second placed Benin but two games against Nigeria doesn’t bode well. Sierra Leone were unlucky in their opening fixture, drawing 1-1 at home to Lesotho. They took the lead with 18 minutes to go but conceding a 90th minute equalizer. Their second game saw a narrow 1-0 loss away to Benin. Their most recent game saw them lose 2-1 in Mauritania. They have just one win in 11 games played over the past four years. Sierra Leone are bidding to reach the finals of this competition for the first time since 1996. Away form in qualifiers is pretty poor with five losses in the last six and no wins since 2002. Their squad is extremely inexperienced, the one named for the game against Mauritania only had two players with at least ten international caps. This isn’t going to be an easy ride for them at all. Go for Nigeria to win and lead at both half and full time.