You would struggle to find a single soul who could have predicted that Nigeria and Sierra Leone would both hit the back of the net four times in their showdown on Friday, but that is exactly what happened at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
Nigeria looked on course to reach double figures in the game as Victor Osimhen, Samu Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi (2) put them 4-0 up inside the first 30 minutes, but Gernot Rohr's side simply capitulated as Sierra Leone's substitutes made all the difference in the second 45.
Kwame Quee reduced the deficit to 4-1 on the stroke of half time, with Mustapha Bundu and Alhaji Kamara (2) coming off the bench to complete an astonishing comeback and deny Nigeria the chance to extend their 100% start to qualification.
While the Super Eagles would undoubtedly have been shocked to the core by Sierra Leone's phenomenal turnaround, Nigeria remain top of Group L by one point ahead of second-placed Benin, although Rohr's side have now shipped the most goals in the group following that eight-goal thriller.
Top spot is exactly where Nigeria aim to be when the group stage reaches its conclusion in March 2021, and with Benin expected to overcome Lesotho this week, the Super Eagles can ill-afford to throw away another lead in such calamitous fashion when they face off against Sierra Leone again.
In contrast, this weekend's hosts managed to move off the bottom of the group at the end of matchday three, which is no less than their incredible turnaround warranted.
88 places separate Nigeria and Sierra Leone in the world rankings, but having notched up four goals against one of Africa's top teams, Sierra Leone are sure to be heading into this encounter on cloud nine as they bid to make an unexpected appearance in the AFCON tournament.
Four of Sierra Leone's five goals in the group were scored on Friday, with the Leone Stars opening their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Lesotho before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Benin.
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