AFCON 2021: Sierra Leone, Nigeria, the only positives - 3 things we learnt from Day 3

A 30th-minute left-footed finish by Kelechi Iheanacho at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua made sure that Nigeria stood tall on a day that saw that six teams at the 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in action, four of them playing out goalless draws. 

But what key points could have been noted from Day 3 as Nigeria now sit pretty at the top of Group D, and Algeria share their spotlight with Sierra Leone in Group E?

Sierra Leone celebrated at the sound of the full-time whistle, not only because they had gained a point from their Group E opener with Algeria, but because they worked so hard in stopping the defending champions from achieving anything meaningful.

Key saves by goalkeeper Mohammed Kamara to deny attempts at goal by Riyad Mahrez and Baghdad Bounedjah helped Sierra Leone win the day, somehow. But, it was the level of resilience that John Keister's side had while on the backfoot that defined the goalless draw.

The Super Eagles played possibly the most tactically sound football they have managed in recent months. Despite pre-tournament events that saw Nigeria fire Gernot Rohr and put Augustine Eguavoen in on a temporary basis, hire a new manager in Jose Peseiro, and unsuccessfully battle Watford, Napoli and Al Shabaab for the services of Emmanuel Dennis, Victor Osimhen and Odion Ighalo respectively, the three-time African champions played like nothing had happened prior. 

A cohesive display saw the squad not just work together to get an Iheanacho goal, but also produce the best performance by any tournament favourite so far at the competition. Nigeria, however, were wasteful in front of the goal with just 5 of 15 shots on target.

Egypt on the other hand, mustered little or nothing as Mohamed Salah went missing for almost 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat.

The biggest worry for Egyptian fans would be how bad their team has become. The Pharoahs were neither threatening in attack nor brilliant in the midfield. Their defence, which seemed to be their best department on the day failed to do one thing: stop Iheanacho. From being tournament favourites, Egypt now seem one of the likeliest sides to get knocked out in the group stage (based on first round performance).

While this clash may have been just another drab match at the AFCON, it showed one thing: that the goalkeepers are putting in a lot of work to ensure this AFCON stays a low-scoring one. 

Four attempts at goal, five big chances to score created, and an awarded penalty in the last 10 minutes of the game, but somehow, Ali Aboeshren kept Sudan in it, helping them share the points with Guinea-Bissau. 

Little wonder he was awarded the man-of-the-match gong at full time, the second goalkeeper - after Sierra Leone's Kamara - to receive it at this AFCON, both earning it on the same day.