Nigeria’s run at the U-20 FIFA World Cup is over.
The Flying Eagles fell 2-1 to the Young Lions of Senegal in a cold Monday night in Lodz.
Nigeria initially showed promise, but very poor ball play and a very blunt attack have come back to hunt them.
It was worsened by an injury to Maxwell Effiom on 32 minutes – with Yira Sor taking his place.
He could have been a hero less than a minute later as he went one-on-one with Senegalese keeper Dialy Ndiaye but totally fluffed his chance.
Sor would live to regret that miss, as Amadou Sagna finished off a flowing Senegalese attack when he slotted past a very poor Olawale Oremade 4 minutes later.
It was 2-0 on 47 minutes as another massive blunder by keeper Oremade from a cross allowed Niane to tuck into an empty net.
Fight back
Nigeria came back firing all cylinders in the second half and got a goal back on 50 minutes as Okon Aniekeme flicked a free kick taken by the impressive Success Makanjuola.
Despite some impressive build-up play, it was not to be as poor finishing – a serious flaw that trailed the Flying Eagles at the AFCON tournament in Niger earlier this year – proved the folly.
