Ikpeba faults Super Eagles defence after 3-0 AFCON qualifier loss to Guinea-Bissau
Former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba has blamed the Super Eagles’ defence for their 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, while defending goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali from criticism. Franculino opened the scoring after 15 minutes, Mama Baldé doubled the lead in the 66th minute with a finish past Nwabali, and Álvaro Djaló added a stoppage‑time goal in the fifth minute of added time.
Ikpeba told SuperSport that Nwabali had little chance to stop Baldé’s effort, describing it as a technically superior strike that struck the post before going in. He said the team’s defensive lapses were the real problem, especially the failure to mark opponents after losing possession. "We lack marking players," Ikpeba noted, adding that the defenders were poor and that the third goal could not be blamed on the goalkeeper.
Currently second in Group L with three points, Nigeria will face Tanzania in a home‑and‑away, two‑leg fixture in November. The loss highlights defensive coordination issues that need fixing before the next qualifier.
What changes do you think the Super Eagles need to make in defence before facing Tanzania?