Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals suffered a major setback as the Super Eagles were beaten 3-0 by Guinea-Bissau in their Group L Matchday 2 meeting in Bissau on Tuesday night.
The Djurtus secured a convincing victory at the September 24 Stadium, increasing pressure on Eric Chelle’s side in a qualifying campaign for a tournament that will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The result came only days after Nigeria narrowly defeated Madagascar’s Barea 2-1 at home in an unconvincing performance.
Nigeria’s attack fails to find a cutting edge
Despite having several high-profile attacking options available, the Super Eagles created little sustained danger in the final third.
Former African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman, Akor Adams and Taiwo Awoniyi all struggled to influence the match, with none able to provide the quality or decisiveness Nigeria needed in front of goal.
Chelle attempted to change the momentum after the interval by introducing Moses Simon, Moses Usor and George Ilenikhena, but the substitutions did not produce a significant improvement. Nigeria continued to lack creativity and attacking cohesion.
Bassey and Iwobi stand out
Fulham players Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi were among the few Nigeria players to emerge with credit from a difficult evening.
Bassey combined strength with composure in defence, dealing effectively with the threat posed by Guinea-Bissau’s forwards and making several useful contributions as Nigeria tried to move forward.
Iwobi was also important in midfield. The former Arsenal midfielder provided much of Nigeria’s vision and creativity, repeatedly looking for ways to open up the hosts’ defence.
Conditions hamper the Super Eagles
The playing surface at the September 24 Stadium was in poor condition, making it difficult for Nigeria to impose a controlled passing game.
Many of the European-based players are accustomed to playing on well-maintained, lush pitches, and the uneven surface disrupted their ability to keep possession and build attacks smoothly. Players struggled at times to control the ball, complete passes and maintain their rhythm.
Chelle’s team also had to deal with harsh weather conditions in Bissau, adding to the difficulties faced during the match.
Full-backs exposed
Bright Osayi-Samuel and Bruno Onyemaechi endured challenging matches as Guinea-Bissau repeatedly attacked down the flanks with pace and direct running.
Onyemaechi was beaten by Trabzonspor striker Franculino Dju for the opening goal, while captain Mama Balde outmanoeuvred Osayi-Samuel for the second.
Both full-backs were regularly left in one-on-one situations because they received little defensive support from the wingers, allowing the hosts’ forwards to put them under sustained pressure.
Guinea-Bissau show greater intensity
Guinea-Bissau, ranked 132nd in the FIFA rankings, displayed greater hunger and determination despite the difficult weather and poor pitch.
The hosts competed strongly for possession and were more clinical when opportunities arrived. Nigeria struggled to contain the pace, directness and skill of the Guinea-Bissau attack, which consistently tested the Super Eagles’ defence.