The Olympic Eagles played a 1-1 draw with Tanzania in the first leg of their U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie in Dar es Salaam today.
Both sides scored from the penalty spot in the even encounter, with Nigeria taking the lead in the first half.
Captain Success Makanjuola scored for Nigeria in the 29th minute, converting from the spot after Qudus Akanni was fouled in the hosts’ box.
The Olympic Eagles created a number of chances afterwards but could not stretch their lead as the sides went into the break.
Tanzania were desperately in the hunt for the equaliser after the interval at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, and hit the crossbar twice before Djiboutian referee Souleiman Ahmed Djama awarded them a penalty that was converted in the 74th minute.
The Olympic Eagles, who were promised $20,000 for victory by the Chairman of NFF’s task force for youth competitions, Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi, were not able to score the winning goal.
Nigeria will host Tanzanian at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan next Saturday in the return fixture.
The winners of the tie on aggregate will proceed to the next round of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The U-23 AFCON, which will be held in Morocco in November 2023, will determine Africa’s representatives at the men’s football event of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
