Nigeria’s Flying Eagles got off to a winning start at the 2015 African Youth Championship when they defeated hosts Senegal 3-1 on Sunday.
The Flying Eagles opened scoring after eight minutes when Taiwo Awoniyi beat the offside trap to slot home past goalkeeper Seydou Sy.
Awoniyi doubled Nigeria’s advantage three minutes later when he stylish went past his marker before firing home.
Sidy Sarr pulled a goal back for the hosts on 26 minutes when his shot from inside the box crashed against the post and into the net.
Chiedra Ezeh could have restored Nigeria’s two-goal cushion in the 36th minute after he was set up by Awoniyi, but his shot from outside the goal area screamed wide off target.
The Flying Eagles goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo pulled off big saves in the 37th and 40th minutes, before Ifeanyi Matthew made it 3-1 in favour of Nigeria a minute to half time with a shot from the top of the box.
Ever dangerous Moussa Kone came close to reducing deficit in 59th minute, but his effort from inside the box missed the mark narrowly.
Goalkeeper Sy denied Ifeanyi Matthew in the 62nd minute with a brilliant save after the Flying Eagles midfielder went clear on goal.
Flying Eagles shot stopper Enaholo saved point-blank in the 70th minute off Mamadou Ndiaye.
In the 79th minute, Soro Mbaye missed narrowly as Senegal continued to threaten the Nigeria goal.
In the dying moments of the game, Senegal again came close, but it was too little too late for Junior Lions to salvage a result in front of their home fans.
Will the Flying Eagles continue their dominance of Africa continent?