Iheanacho grabs late winner as Nigeria qualify for Africa Cup of Nations

Victor Osimhen scored twice and Kelechi Iheanacho snatched an added-time winner as Nigeria edged Sierra Leone 3-2 in an Africa Cup of Nations thriller on Sunday to qualify for the finals.

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Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Mali also booked places at the African showpiece from 13 January in the Ivory Coast, raising the number of qualifiers to 14.

Hosts the Ivory Coast, holders Senegal, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia and Zambia had already secured places for the 24-team finals.

Nigeria needed a draw in Liberia - the temporary home of Sierra Leone as they do not have an international-standard stadium - to clinch qualification on matchday five.

The Super Eagles made a strong start, building a two-goal lead within 32 minutes thanks to Napoli star Osimhen.

Top scorer in the last Serie A season, the 24-year-old has been linked with Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

His first goal came from a perfectly weighted lob over 18-year-old goalkeeper Ibrahim Sesay and he later pushed the ball into the net in a goalmouth scramble.

Sierra Leone pulled one goal back before half-time thanks to Mustapha Bundu and levelled through Augustus Kargbo with six minutes of regular time remaining.

Iheanacho, whose Leicester City team were relegated from the Premier League last month, struck five minutes into added time by pushing a low Zaidu Sanusi cross over the goal line.

Nigeria and Sierra Leone often produce drama when they meet with the visiting Leone Stars wiping out a four-goal deficit after 29 minutes to draw 4-4 in a 2021 Cup of Nations qualifier.

The result meant