Nigeria, March 20 -- Despite parading a host of foreign-based stars, the Nigeria U-23 team were beaten 2-0 on Wednesday by their Libyan counterparts at the Stade de Ben Guerdane in Tunisia in the first leg of the African qualifiers.

The Nigeria U-23, nicknamed the Olympic Eagles, are walking a tight rope in their quest to qualify for the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in which the country is the defending champion.

The Olympic Eagles playing one man short following a red card bagged by goalkeeper Adamu Abubakar late in the first half had no answers to the Libyans who scored a goal in each half of Wednesday's encounter.

The North Africans despite technically playing away from home took the lead barely seven minutes into the game when strike...