Nigeria’s U20s paid the price for poor finishing as they fell 2-0 to Portugal in the Copa de la Republica in Panama City Wednesday.

Hosts Panama forced Mexico to a 1-1 draw in the second game of the night at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez to leave Nigeria pointless and bottom of this four-nation tournament preparatory to the World Cup in Colombia.

This was the third game in succession that Nigeria have failed to score and coach John Obuh admitted that it was becoming a cause for serious concern.

“The problem was that we again did not put away the chances we created especially in the first half, where we ought to have scored at least two goals,” said Obuh.

“Instead they got their own chances and they took them.”

Obuh started out with mostly the squad players and said it was an experiment that paid off.

“We used this game to experiment a few things and I was glad I saw those things I was looking for,” he revealed.

Gbenga Arokoyo shone in the heart of the defence, while there was a great improvement in the overall play of the Nigerian Under-20 team as they strung passes across the pitch with ease and confidence and attacked with a lot more urgency especially after they fell behind.

The Flying Eagles effected attacking changes by the restart as Ahmed Musa and Bright Ejike came on for Egbedi and Chidi Osuchukwu.

But it was two-goal hero Nelson Oliveira, who threatened severally before he finally made hay in the 55th minute when he slotted past onrushing skipper and goalkeeper Danjuma Paul on a fast counter after a Chimezie Mbah mistake in the Portugal half of the pitch.

Nigeria attacked in search of an equaliser as Sani Emmanuel and Terna Suwan were also introduced to the fray.

However, just when it looked like the African champions could get something out of this contest, C.Ronaldo-lookalike Oliveira struck again in the 67th minute when he headed home off a corner.

Musa went on a superb solo run in the 78th minute and another substitute, Uche Nwofor, came very close but his powerful shot from inside the box sailed over the bar.

On Friday, the Flying Eagles will trade tackles with Mexico in the first game, while hosts Panama battle Portugal.