Sudan U20 1-2 Nigeria U20: Chukwueze, Osimhen Hand Flying Eagles Comeback Win

[contextly_auto_sidebar]

By Samuel Ahmadu

Nigeria U20 side defeated their Sudanese counterparts 2-1 in the first leg, final round of their 2017 Africa U20 Cup of Nations played in Khartoum on Sunday.

Goals from Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen earned Emmanuel Amuneke’s lads a comeback victory against their north Africans foes at the Al-Merrikh Stadium.

The Flying Eagles started on a bright note, seeing their best opening scoring chance through Gavi Thompson thwarted by the hosts’ keeper in the 22nd minute.

Two minutes later, the hosts again threatened by the pouring attack of the west Africans with keeper brilliantly stopping Oshimen’s strike.

The Wolfsburg striker came close again in the 25th minute but his effort came off the post. Against the run of play, the Sudanese snatched the vital lead, beating the Flying Eagles keeper Akpan Udoh in the 27th minute.

They also came knocking for another goal but Udoh was spot on to deny the hosts on the brink of half time. In the second half, the hosts were stunned by Chukwueze’s equalizer for the visitors in the 67th minute.

The Arsenal-bound forward threatened again for the second goal but he missed out connecting a brilliant pass from attacking partner Osimhen in the 72nd minute.

In the 86th minute, Osimhen struck the winner for the visitors, putting the hosts on the verge of a qualifier exit ahead of second leg meeting in a fortnight.

The return leg will take place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on Sunday, July 24.