The Super Eagles tonight lost 2-1 to hosts Algeria in a friendly played in Oran.
Both teams, who were rocking their new kits, went into the break at 1-1 before Youcef Atal thunderbolt from distance in the 61st minute beat goalkeeper Francis Uzoho hollow.
Home team Algeria took the game to the Super Eagles from the onset, but it was Nigeria who took the lead in the ninth minute, when on-form Terem Moffi reacted quickest to stab home a loose ball inside the six-yard box.
It was his third goal for the Super Eagles.
Captain Riyad Mahrez drew Algeria level in the 41st minute from the penalty spot after Frank Onyeka was adjudged to have fouled an Algerian inside the box.
Algeria, who topped the ball possession, would have restored parity earlier in the 19th minute from a defensive mistake, but the post came to the rescue of the Eagles.
Nigeria thought they had gone 2-0 up in the 28th minute, when Moffi and Ademola Lookman combined before the Atalanta winger hit the back of the net.
But the Tunisian referee chalked it off for offside.
Moffi shot for goal in the 31st minute, but it was directly to the goalkeeper.
After the break, the home team forced Nigeria to play on the back foot with striker Islam Slimani’s header from inside the box missing not by much in the 55th minute.
Six minutes later the North Africans conjured the magical goal that decided this encounter.
The speed and danger the Eagles showed going forward in the first half were missing after halftime as they created very little to trouble the Algerian defence.
Algeria have now won 10 head-to-head meetings with Nigeria, while the Eagles were victorious on eight occasions and there have been five draws.
Super Eagles Starting XI – Francis Uzoho – Zaidu Sanusi, Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Kevin Akpoguma – Frank Onyeka (Raphael Onyedika 85), Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho (Cyriel Dessers 85) – Moses Simon (Captain), Terem Moffi (Taiwo Awoniyi 72), Ademola Lookman (Saviour Godwin 70)
