Nigeria beat host country Senegal 3-1 on Sunday in an opening African Youth Championship game in Dakar.
Hosts Senegal dominated the game in the second half after they fell behind courtesy of two early strikes.
The Flying Eagles went ahead after eight minutes when Taiwo Awoniyi beat the offside trap.
The lanky striker scored again in the 11thminute when he ghosted past his shadow before he hit target.
Sidy Sarr gave the home team some hope after 26 minutes when his shot home from inside the box.
Nigeria goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo pulled off big saves in the 37th and 40th minutes, before Ifeanyi Matthew made it 3-1 in favour of Nigeria a minute to half time with a shot from the top of the box.
Goalkeeper Sy denied Ifeanyi Matthew in the 62nd minute with a brilliant save after the Flying Eagles midfielder went clear on goal.
This was after the lively Moussa Kone came close to reducing deficit in 59th minute for Senegal, but his effort from inside the box missed the mark narrowly.
Flying Eagles shot stopper Enaholo saved point-blank in the 70th minute off Mamadou Ndiaye.
Late on, substitute Soro Mbaye missed by a whisker as Senegal controlled the game and continued to threaten the Nigerian goal.