- The Super Eagles stumbled to a [2-0] defeat in an international friendly match against Mali inside the Stade de Marrakech on Friday.
- Mali secured the memorable win over Nigeria courtesy of goals from youngsters El Bilal Touré and Kamory Doumbia.
Only four days ago, the Super Eagles soared to a 2-1 victory against eternal rivals, Ghana inside the same stadium and planned to make it consecutive wins against the Malians.
However, Les Aigles had other plans and drew the first blood through Atalanta BC forward El Bilal Touré after a terrible defensive blunder by Chidozie Awaziem.
Moses Simon and substitute Cyriel Dessers had clear-cut chances to level the scores for Nigeria on either side of the halftime break, but they fluffed their lines.
Mali made the Super Eagles pay for those missed chances as 21-year-old Kamory Doumbia pounced in the 87th minute to smash his side's second goal past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
It is the first loss in charge of the Super Eagles for caretaker coach Finidi George, who is looking to be named the team's substantive handler ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June.
More significantly, the loss is Nigeria's first defeat against Mali in 49 years, with the Super Eagles last suffering defeat against their West African neighbours in 1975.
Super Eagles' record in 2024 now reads six victories, three defeats, and a draw, with the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finalists now conceding at least a goal in each of their last four games.
