The wave beating down the fortunes of Nigerian football is still on high tide as the nation’s  U-20 team will not be at next year’s U-20 AFCON, after they were beaten 4-3 at home by 10-man Sudan. The Sudanese thus won the tie on away goals rule.

The Flying Eagles, who are the defending champions, had won the first leg 2-1 in Sudan and were believed to have an easy triumph over a team they beat on home soil.

The Flying showed purpose in the early minutes of the encounter before Samuel Chukwueze opened scoring in the 19th minute at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. Sudan equalized through Ahmed, before Funsho Bamgboye put Emmanuel Amuneke’s boys ahead again.

The visitors were level again before the break, with Halid Abdamuleem punishing a defensive lapse. Sudan then went ahead 3-2. Then Orji Okonknwo made it 3-3, before an own goal gave victory to the visitors.