Nigeria’s Super Eagles suffered a disappointing 3-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau in their second 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture, with head coach Eric Chelle apologising to Nigerian supporters after the game.
The two teams went into the encounter with three points each after winning their opening matches against Tanzania and Madagascar respectively, making the meeting an early battle for the top position in Group L.
Guinea-Bissau Take Early Control
The hosts wasted little time in asserting themselves as Franculino Dju put Guinea-Bissau ahead in the 15th minute.
The Wild Dogs successfully protected their advantage for the remainder of the opening half, leaving Nigeria trailing at the interval.
The Super Eagles struggled to produce a response after the restart, while Guinea-Bissau continued to threaten the Nigerian defence.
Mama Baldé eventually increased the hosts’ advantage in the 66th minute before Álvaro Djaló scored again in the closing moments to complete the 3-0 victory.
Super Eagles Drop to Second
The defeat significantly altered the Group L standings.
Guinea-Bissau moved to the summit with six points from two matches, while Nigeria remained in second place with three points.
Madagascar and Tanzania have one point apiece.
The result gives Guinea-Bissau an early advantage in the race for the group’s qualification position, while Nigeria will have to recover in their remaining fixtures.
Chelle Apologises After Defeat
Speaking after the final whistle, Chelle accepted responsibility for the result while also mentioning the condition of the playing surface.
The Super Eagles coach said:
“I apologise to the fans. Guinea-Bissau were the better side. The pitch is also bad, but we accept responsibility.”
His comments came as the team’s performance attracted criticism from Nigerian football supporters, with many expressing disappointment over the manner of the defeat.
Nigeria’s Next Fixtures
The Super Eagles are not scheduled to play another competitive qualifier until the November international window.
Nigeria are expected to face Tanzania twice during that period as the AFCON qualifying campaign continues.
Before those matches, Chelle’s side is scheduled to play Russia in an international friendly on October 6, giving the team an opportunity to return to action before the next round of competitive fixtures.
