In an international friendly match held in Marrakech, Morocco on Tuesday night, the Super Eagles of Nigeria suffered a 2-0 defeat to the Eagles of Mali.
Under the guidance of George Finidi, Nigeria found themselves trailing in the first half and struggled throughout the game to find an equalizer, only to concede another goal late in the match.
This defeat marks the first time Mali has overcome the Super Eagles since their previous encounter on 5th September 1975, also in a friendly match that ended with a score of 4-1.
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Before Tuesday’s fixture, Nigeria had enjoyed an unbeaten streak of eight consecutive matches against Mali, securing five victories and three draws.
Interim coach Finidi George opted to start Jamilu Collins, Raphael Onyedika, and Kenneth Omeruo, who replaced Bruno Onyemaechi, Frank Onyeka, and Benjamin Tanimu, all of whom featured in Nigeria’s 2-1 victory against Ghana on Friday.
This loss marks Finidi’s first defeat since taking charge, following the end of Jose Peseiro’s contract. Finidi had previously led the team to victory in his debut match, a friendly encounter against the Black Stars of Ghana.
Looking ahead, Nigeria’s next challenge will be the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa scheduled for June.