AFCON Qualifier: Osimhen secures three points for F/Eagles in Sudan

Victor Osimhen snatched a later winner for Nigeria’s Flying Eagles to beat home team Sudan 2-1 Sunday in a 2017 U20 AFCON qualifier at the El Merriekh Stadium in Khartoum.

Sudan’s Young Falcons held their own for most part of this clash against a Flying Eagles side, who paraded several stars from Nigeria’s FIFA U17 World Cup triumph last year including Osimhen, who is bound for German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.

The return leg will be played in Nigeria in a fortnight with the overall winners advancing to the U20 AFCON in Zambia in February.

The hosts took the lead through striker Mohamed after 27 minutes against the run of play.

However, Nigeria drew level in the 67th minute through Samuel Chukwueze.

Four minutes from time, Osimhen rose to the occasion to deal a crushing blow on the Falcons.

In stoppage time, the star striker then saw his effort saved at point-blank range.

Chukwueze, whose move to Arsenal fell through, had earlier come close to giving the Flying Eagles the winning goal in the 74th minute.

Sudan  would have doubled their lead in the 56th minute, when Khalid was one-on-one with Flying Eagles goalkeeper Akpan Udoh only for him to fire off target.

It was massive miss as Nigeria continued to chase the game before they were eventually rewarded.

The Nigerians coped well with the boiling heat in Sudan and could have even gone ahead in the 22nd minute, but midfielder ‘Paul Scholes’ Gavi Thompson failed to beat the Sudan goalkeeper Adam after going clear of the defence.