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In another high-profile preparation match behind closed doors before qualifying for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations next month, Morocco triumphed 3-1 over impoverished Senegal.
Burkina Faso, Gambia, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania and Tunisia also won, while Cameroon, host of the 2021 Nations Cup, drew 0-0 against Japan.
Nations Cup champions Algeria needed less than six minutes to score the goal in the Austrian city of Sankt Veit an der Glan that plunged Nigeria into a rematch of the 2019 semi-final in Africa’s main competition.
Center-back Ramy Bensebaini ventured into a corner and, after heading the ball down, hit it into the net.
Nigeria gave a debut to Frankfurt-born Kevin Akpoguma, who, like Bensebaini, plays in the Bundesliga and represented Germany at the underage level before changing his allegiance.
The defender is the last of many European-born footballers to represent the African country his parents or grandparents hail from.
Algeria last lost in October 2018 outside of Benin and are now moving to the Netherlands for a friendly against Mexico on Tuesday.
Senegal, the top-ranked African team ahead of Tunisia, Nigeria, Algeria and Morocco, suffered a series of significant withdrawals from the team.
Liverpool striker and African Footballer of the Year 2019 Sadio Mane tested positive for Covid-19 and injuries ruled out goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
Challenging task
So a challenging task in Rabat for the Senegalese became much more difficult and they lost by three goals before Ismaila Sarr converted a penalty in the 88th minute.
Selim Amallah put the Moroccans ahead in the 10th minute and Youssef en Nesyri and Youssef el Arabi joined the scoreboard in the second half.
On Tuesday, Morocco will host a team from the Democratic Republic of the Congo that will be sore from a 3-0 beating by Burkina Faso in the Moroccan city of El Jadida, while Senegal will host Mauritania.
The Mauritanians will travel south to neighboring Senegal, boosted by a 2-1 win over Sierra Leone in Nouakchott, where Hemeya Tanjy shot on goal for the 79-minute goal.
Mali shrugged off the loss of several players to injuries and positive coronavirus tests to beat Ghana 3-0 in the Turkish resort city of Antalya.
Hamari Traore put the Malians ahead after three minutes and El Bilal Touré and Amadou Haidara scored early and late in the second half.
Tunisia was another nation to triumph 3-0 with all goals against Sudan in Rades near Tunisia during the first half.
French captain Wahbi Khazri was involved in all the goals, scored by Seifedine Khaoui, Ali Maaloul and Anis Ben Slimane.
In other friendlies, the Gambia edged Congo 1-0 in Portugal with a goal from Assan Ceesay and a brilliant run and a fierce shot from Cliff Nyakeya helped Kenya beat Zambia 2-1 in Nairobi.
The coronavirus marked the African teams from last November until the end of September, when Sudan won two friendlies against Chad.
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