In a Tuesday night international friendly in Oran, the Super Eagles were narrowly defeated by the Algerian Fennecs thanks to a contentious penalty tucked in by Riyad Mahrez and a 28-yard rocket from Youcef Atal.
When Terem Moffi, a Nigerian player residing in France, evaded the attention of Algerian defenders in the ninth minute and hooked the ball into the net as a shot by defender Calvin Bassey was deflected in a goalmouth melee, Nigeria had taken the lead.
Ten minutes later, Algeria, the two-time African champions, nearly equalized when goalkeeper Francis Uzoho upended Riyad Mahrez in the box during a counterattack, but the home team had already been caught off-side.
Ademola Lookman smoothly converted when the Super Eagles launched a counterattack a few minutes later, giving them a 2-0 lead, but Algerian referee Mehrez Melki disallowed it for off-side.
Five minutes before halftime, Mahrez would tie the score for the North Africans after referee Melki ruled that Frank Onyeka had fouled Youcef Belaili in the Nigerian box.
The Super Eagles, who were without a number of key players, including defenders William Ekong and Jamilu Collins, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, strikers Victor Osimhen and Sadiq Umar, and Wilfred Ndidi, created a number of chances in a frantic first half that would have effectively sealed the outcome of the match.
The game was won by the hosts when Youcef Atal blasted past a misplaced Uzoho from 28 yards after latching onto a loose ball after a corner kick was poorly cleared.
On November 17 at Lisbon, Nigeria will play a friendly match against Portugal.
