By Samuel Akpan
Guinea-Bissau stunned the Super Eagles with a commanding 3-0 victory in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group L clash at the 24 de Setembro National Stadium in Bissau on Tuesday.
Franculino Djú broke the deadlock in the 15th minute by lashing a left-footed strike beyond Stanley Nwabali after Renato Nhaga slipped him into the penalty area.
The Super Eagles laboured to find a reply as the hosts guarded their early advantage all the way to the interval with the score still 1-0.
Nigeria nearly levelled before the break when Alex Iwobi teed up Ademola Lookman only for Guinea-Bissau goalkeeper Embadjé to produce a superb stop.
After the restart, the hosts kept pressing and doubled their lead in the 66th minute when Mama Baldé converted a low drive after collecting a pass from Mamadi Camará on the left.
Nigeria introduced George Ilenikhena and Raphael Onyedika for Akor Adams and Wilfred Ndidi in the 75th minute in a bid to claw back the deficit.
Ilenikhena almost reduced the arrears in the 85th minute but Embadjé again stood firm to deny the Nigerian striker.
Guinea-Bissau wrapped up the contest in stoppage time as Álvaro Djaló finished with his right foot after Tamble Monteiro threaded a through ball.
The Super Eagles now carry extra work into the rest of the qualifying campaign after tasting their first defeat following a 2-1 success over Madagascar in the previous Group L outing.
PerSecondNews reports that Eric Chelle started in a 4-4-2/4-3-3 hybrid – Nwabali; Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Onyemaechi; Ndidi, Onyeka, Iwobi; Lookman, Awoniyi, Adams.
Nigeria had more of the ball (55 per cent) and more completed passes, that is the match in one line, possession without protection.
With only a thin central screen, Nigeria’s first line of pressure was easy to skip, Guinea-Bissau do not need long spells of the ball.
They wait for the space between Nigeria’s midfield and centre-backs, then attack it.
Franculino’s opener in the 15th minute came from that exact pocket.
Renato Nhaga played him into the box and he finished left-footed past a rooted Stanley Nwabali.
The second, from Mama Baldé in the 66th minute, came down the same route: Mamadi Camará found him on the left, he beat Bright Osayi-Samuel and drove low into the net.
Osayi-Samuel was picked ahead of Aina to refresh the right side after Friday, Baldé targeted that channel for the second goal. On the other flank, Bruno Onyemaechi was left exposed whenever Nigeria’s midfield stepped up.
The players who changed the Madagascar game — Ilenikhena and Usor — watched the first hour from the bench.
Chelle had almost no training time between the two fixtures and said so before kick-off.
The FIFA window left him one or two proper sessions, then travel.
That is context, not an excuse, against a side that had just beaten Tanzania 2-0 without the ball, starting the fresher, more mobile front line was the safer away-day choice.
Instead Nigeria began with a heavier pair and had to chase from the 15th minute.
Guinea-Bissau sit top of 2027 AFCON qualifying Group L on six points after two wins from two, the Super Eagles are second on three points, three behind the Djurtus and already three goals worse on goal difference.
PerSecondNews reports that Madagascar and co-hosts Tanzania both have one point after drawing 1-1 with each other on Tuesday.
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