A lone goal by Walaa Eldin Musa has put Sudan at advantage over the Olympic eagles as they battle to secure the 2019 under 23 nations cup ticket.
Imama Amapakabo’s whose side started the game on the strong foot, failed to convert their chances and fell to a half time goal in Omdurman on Thursday losing by 1-0 to the Sudanese side.
The green eagles who Paid for their wasteful performance when Eldin Musa placed his effort past goalkeeper Adamu Abubakar on the stroke of half-time, will now have to overturn Thursdays 1-0 loss by defeating Sudan next week at the return leg fixture in Asaba.
Mainz forward Taiwo Awoniyi and Genk attacker Stephen Odey who came close to fire the Under 23 eagles ahead failed to find the back of the net, leaving the Green eagles with a must Win option if they are to be at the 2019 U23 AFCON.
Despite making three changes in the final 20 minutes of the encounter, Sudan fought off the challenge from the Olympic Eagles to bag a crucial first-leg victory in front of their home fans.
A victory at home will hand the Afcon slot the the dream team. however, hopes are high for the Nigerian side as the dream team had a similar experience in the previous round of their qualifiers campaign loosing to Libya by 2-0 in the first leg and coming back in the second leg to trash the Libyan side 4-0.
Faced with the task of overturning the defeat in Asaba next Tuesday, the Olympic eagles risk missing out on the 2019 U23 Afcon tournament later this year in Egypt and the Olympics next year as the top three teams in the Afcon competition will represent the continent in the football event of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
