Nigeria U-23 beat Algeria 4-1 on Friday but the victory came too late as Senegal and Morocco qualified for the semifinals of the CAF U-23 Championship, which also serves as qualifiers for the London 2012 Olympics.
Nigeria needed the win and the goals but qualification for the next stage was also hinged on Morocco beating Senegal. But the Senegalese, who had already beaten Nigeria 2-1 and lost to Algeria 1-0, sealed qualification after beating hosts Morocco 1-0.
Nigeria’s desperation for victory was expressed early into the game but the Algerians gradually created chances and in the 42nd minute, Bounedjah Baghdad scored to increase the burden on Nigeria. Goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye had to make several saves to deny the North Africans the chance to extend the lead.
The Algerians threatened the more at resumption of the second half but Kingsley Udoh equalised for Nigeria in the 47th minute. In the closing stages of the game, goals by Lawal Raheem and Uchechi Daniel broke the Algerians resistance.
The Nigerian team, led by Austin Eguavoen will however, point to the unimpressive performance in the first two matches as their major undoing.
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