Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign suffered a heavy blow on Tuesday after the Super Eagles fell to a shocking 3-0 defeat against Guinea-Bissau at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro.
It was a result few predicted. The Djurtus produced a dominant performance to inflict on Nigeria one of its heaviest competitive defeats in a long while
The Super Eagles had travelled to Bissau full of confidence following a 2-1 comeback win over Madagascar in Uyo in their Group L opener. In that game, Madagascar took a surprise lead through Ehsan Kari, before debutants George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor struck to turn the game around.
Guinea-Bissau also came into the tie in good form after a 2-0 away victory over Tanzania, with Franculino Djú and Mama Baldé on target.
Head coach Eric Chelle made three changes to the side that beat Madagascar, handing starts to Bright Osayi-Samuel for Ola Aina, Frank Onyeka for Samuel Chukwueze and Taiwo Awoniyi for George Ilenikhena, but the switch failed to pay off.
Franculino Dju opened the scoring in the 15th minute, before Mama Baldé — who scored Guinea-Bissau’s famous winner against Nigeria in Abuja in 2023 — doubled the lead in the 65th minute. Substitute Alvaro Djalo sealed the historic win with a third goal in the fifth minute of added time.
The loss ranks among Nigeria’s worst in competitive football since the 3-0 defeat to Zambia at AFCON 1982, the 5-1 thrashing by Algeria in 1990 and the 4-1 loss to Denmark at the 1998 World Cup.
With the victory, Guinea-Bissau now top Group L with six points from two games without conceding a goal, while Nigeria stay on three points. Madagascar and Tanzania remain bottom of the group without a point.
