Nigeria’s men under-20 football team, Flying Eagles, lost 1-0 to their Beninese counterparts in an African Youth Championship (AYC) qualifiers warm-up match in Cotonou on Sunday.
The hosts’ skipper Seibou Mama scored the match-winning goal in the 48th minute from a distance.
Every effort by coach Manu Garba’s side to salvage a draw fell short of goal.
Sheyi Damilola, standing in goal for Benin, frustrated the Eagles’ effort just like he did against the Golden Eaglets at the WAFU B tournament in Togo.
Taiwo Awoniyi twice came close to scoring in the first-half, but ballooned the second of such well off the mark in the 39th minute. Awoniyi’s shot early in the second-half, crashed against the goal post.
Wilfried Ndidi and substitute Kelechi Iheanacho’s effort to restore parity were denied by the outstanding Damilola.
