Flying Eagles start their journey to qualification for the World Cup as they lost to Senegal U20 in their first game of the African Cup of Nations, AFCON U20 in Egypt, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
A strike by Souleymane Faye gave the Senegalese side the win over their West African brothers at the Cairo Stadium.
The Junior Eagles had gone into the game with so much confidence with a 19 match unbeaten run, 18 wins and a draw, but it was not to be as Faye scored the first 2023 AFCON U20 goal to put his side in front in the 40th minute.
However, the Nigerian team looked a shadow of themselves as could not over turn the goal in the remainder of the first half and the second half.
Mohammed Abdullahi capped up a bad day at office for the team after he was shown the red card in the 89th minute for an infringement.
They play host, Egypt who drew goalless with Mozambique on Wednesday in their second game of the tournament.
By Uche Dozie