In their Group B debut at the 2023 African Games, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles faced a disappointing setback, succumbing to a 2-1 defeat against Uganda at the Accra Sports Stadium in Ghana on Thursday.
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The match began with Uganda taking the lead in the 33rd minute, as Usama Arafat capitalized on an opportunity to swiftly advance towards the Flying Eagles’ goal area and find the back of the net, putting his team ahead.
However, the Flying Eagles managed to level the score just four minutes later in the 37th minute. Sadiq Isiyaka seized upon a well-placed corner kick, executing a precise header to bring Nigeria back into contention.
Despite this brief resurgence, Uganda seized the initiative once again in the 81st minute. Ivan Irinimbabazi delivered a decisive blow with a low shot from outside the box, eluding the Nigerian goalkeeper and securing the victory for his team.
Looking ahead, the Flying Eagles are determined to bounce back from this opening defeat as they prepare to face South Sudan on Monday, March 11. South Sudan, too, suffered a setback in their inaugural match, falling 1-0 to Senegal on Thursday.
With their sights set on rejuvenating their campaign in the tournament, the Flying Eagles will be eager to regroup and secure a positive result in their upcoming fixture against South Sudan.
