Nigeria will play no part at the forthcoming 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations after losing 5-5 on away goals to Sudan.
The Flying Eagles were expected to complete a double over the junior Falcons after winning 2-1 a fortnight ago in Khartoum.
But an uninspiring performance by the Emmanuel Amunike-tutored side in which they shipped in four unbelievable goals to lose 4-3 thwarted that quest.
National team football finally returned to the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, after about three years absence – but sadly it was one to forget for the fans.
Amunike, whose team have not lost in seven attempts, paraded eight players from the victorious Golden Eaglets squad to the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile last year.
Samuel Chukwueze produced a solo finish in the 19th to put the Eagles in front before Ahmed Sani struck moments later to draw the visitors level.
Funsho Bamgboye and Halid Abdamuleem added one apiece for both sides to make it 2-2.
Sudan however went in front in the 67th minute before Orji Okonkwo equalised to restore parity for the home team.
However, the visitors had the last laugh when Nigeria conceded an own goal seven minutes from time.
The defeat means seven-time champions, Nigeria, will miss the CAF youth championship for the first time in 12 years.
The 20th edition of the biennial tournament will be held in Zambia from February 26 to March 12 2017.
