Super Eagles suffer 3-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau, return to Abuja after AFCON qualifier
Super Eagles arrived in Abuja on Tuesday morning after a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match played the previous day. Francolino Djú opened the scoring for Guinea-Bissau in the first half, cutting in from the left and curling his shot past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. After halftime, Mama Baldé doubled the lead before Álvaro Djaló added a third in stoppage time to seal the victory.
The loss marks Nigeria’s first setback in the qualifiers, coming just four days after a 2-1 comeback win over Madagascar on Friday. With the result, Guinea-Bissau tops Group L with six points from two wins, while the Super Eagles drop to second with three points from one win and one loss. Madagascar and Tanzania remain tied with one point each after their 1-1 draw on Tuesday.
For Nigeria to secure automatic qualification, they must win their remaining matches and hope for slip-ups by the group leaders. The next qualifier fixtures have not yet been announced, but the team will need to address defensive lapses and improve finishing ahead of the upcoming games.
What adjustments should the coaching staff make to restore defensive solidity, and can the Eagles recover their winning momentum in time to clinch a 2027 AFCON spot?