Dara O’Shea was among a number of Town players to add to their caps this evening, the Blues’ skipper’s Republic of Ireland falling to a 1-0 defeat in Kosovo in their opening Nations League tie.

O’Shea captained the Irish side which held out until the 83rd minute against a Kosovo side which had always looked the more likely winners with former Town keeper Aro Muric never seriously tested.

Chieo Ogbene, on loan from the Blues to Lincoln and winning his 36th cap, was also among the starters and spurned Ireland’s best opportunity in the 22nd minute, shooting over from a cutback from the right.

Just before half-time, O’Shea, who was winning his 46th cap, blocked a Veldin Hodža shot on the line.

Elsewhere, midfielder Sasa Lukic came on at half-time as Serbia were beaten 2-1 at home by Greece, the visitors netting the winning goal four minutes into injury time.

Lukic, playing for his national side for the 63rd time, is the first player with Town to win a cap with Serbia.

Abdul Fatawu played the full 90 minutes for Ghana as they were beaten 2-0 away by Cote d’Ivoire in their opening Nations League tie, the winger conceding a controversial penalty.

Fatawu, the first Town player to win a full Ghana cap, was playing his 33rd game for his country.

Blues U21s central defender Corbin Mthunzi came on in the 85th minute to win his fourth full cap as Zimbabwe came from 2-0 down to beat Sierra Leone away in their first Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, former Blues youngster Tawanda Chirewa scoring the equalising goal.

Photo: Reuters