Nigeria’s men under-20 national team, the Flying Eagles surrendered a two-goal lead against minnows Guinea-Bissau to end their first leg second round fixture in a 2-2 draw.
The September 24 Stadium in Bissau was the venue of Saturday’s qualification game for next year’s Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Niger Republic.
Nigeria, coached by Paul Aigbogun (also Enyimba’s head coach) went into the lead on the quarter hour mark through Aigbogun’s player at club level; Wasiu Alalade.
The former ABS FC forward then doubled Nigeria’s advantage in the 35th minute as the young Eagles took a 2-0 lead into the break.
Hosts Guinea Bissau however mounted a spirited comeback in the second half and successfully drew level against their visitors just after the hour mark.
Both sides toiled for the remainder of the duration but neither could get a winner which could have given them a clear lead into the second leg.
Nigeria will however take their away goals advantage into the return leg billed for the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Southern Nigeria. The winner over two legs will face either Mauritania or Guinea in the final qualifying round next month.
Other first leg results on Saturday
Algeria 0-0 Ghana
Mozambique 1-1 South Africa
Uganda 1-0 Cameroon
Rwanda 0-2 Zambia
Botswana 1-1 Congo
Burkina Faso 1-1 Libya
Gabon 3-0 Cote d’Ivoire
