The U23 team of Sudan defeated their counterparts from Nigeria 1-0 to gain a first leg advantage ahead of the return leg of their AFCON U23 Cup of Nations qualifiers in Nigeria.
Nigeria started the game the better side with Taiwo Awoniyi and Steven Odey both coming close to giving the boys of coach Imama Amapakabo an early lead. Odey was particularly guilty of wasting a good chance with the goalkeeper at his mercy.
The Genk forward was however the most lively player for Nigeria in the first half but his misses came back to hunt his team as Sudan against the run of play took the lead with less than three minutes to go before the half time break.
A cheeky backhell from Walaa El Din broke the deadlock after Nigeria failed to clear their lines following a swift counter attack from Sudan. Both team went into the break with the host leading.
In the second half, the home team continued from where they left off with some nice interchange of passes and almost double their lead twice as Nigeria fail to carve out any meaningful chance.
Coach of the Nigerian team made three substitutions but at the end Sudan hanged on to claim a first leg advantage ahead of the return leg in Nigeria on Sunday.
