VMT News Ltd
No 1 News Site in Nigeria

Flying Eagles lose to Senegal in their opening game at Under-20 AFCON

211

Flying Eagles lose to Senegal in their opening game at Under-20 AFCON

Soulaymane Faye scored the only goal as Senegal edged Nigeria’s Flying Eagles 1-0 on Sunday in Cairo in their respective opening match at the 2023 Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations.

The Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) reports that the victory moved Senegal to the top spot in Group A of the competition tagged “Egypt 2023”.

The striker broke the deadlock five minutes before half-time at the Cairo International Stadium.

The Young Lions of Teranga started strong in midfield, with Lamine Camara and team captain Samba Diallo pulling the strings for the WAFU-A champions.

Senegal made their intentions known from the opening minutes with striker Pape Diallo causing mayhem in the Nigerian penalty box.

Pape Diallo saw his header saved by Nigerian goalkeeper Nwosu on the half-hour mark, following Camara’s inviting delivery.

Faye’s close-range finish came as a result of the lanky forward being the quickest to respond to Pape Diop’s low effort which Nwosu turned to his path.

Read Also: Presidency: I support APC govs’ resolve on power shift — Wike

The Flying Eagles pushed harder for the equaliser in the second half, but Senegal  defended well to keep a clean sheet and Samba Diallo even came close to doubling their lead.

That was when his diving header missed the bottom corner of the Nigerian goal.

Changes by Nigeria in the second half, in the substitution of Halliru Sarki for Emmanuel Uchegbu and the introduction of Jude Sunday for Ibrahim Mohammad, could still not help matters.  

To make matters worse, the Flying Eagles were reduced to 10 men following substitute Ahmed Abdullahi’s sending-off in the closing stages of the match.

The forward had replaced Olamilekan Adams, but a high-foot challenge on a Senegalese could only earn him a 90th minute sending-off.

Senegal though missed two late chances earlier, through second-half substitute Mame Ngom.

He failed to hit the target twice when he beat the goalkeeper to the ball only to fire over the goal.

VMT NEWS reports that the Flying Eagles will now take on hosts Egypt on Wednesday at the same venue in their second group phase game.

The hosts had earlier in the day in the competition’s opening match drawn goalless with Mozambique.

Support Voice Media Trust journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to Voice Media Trust, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate into:

Dollar Account:

  • A/C NO: 3003093745
    A/C NAME: VOICE MEDIA TRUST LTD
    BANK: UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA

Naira Account:

  • A/C NO: 1023717841
    A/C NAME: VOICE  MEDIA TRUST LTD
    BANK: UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.