By Akinwale Kasali
The Super Eagles shambolic outing against the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau, which consolidated Guinea Bissau’s leadership of Group L of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series has generated mixed feelings among Nigerians.
The 3-0 loss has triggered widespread outrage and heavy criticism from football fans, pundits, and sports analysts across social media.
Distraught fans flooded platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, calling the performance a “national disaster” and “the height of disgrace”.
Many Nigerians expressed frustration that the team could not score a goal against Guinea-Bissau despite boasting high-profile attacking talents.
Fans heavily criticized the tactical setup of head coach Eric Chelle. Analysts argued the squad lacked cohesion, motivation, and a clear tactical blueprint, especially coming off a hard-fought 2-1 win over Madagascar.
The Coach Chelle-led team were stunned by three unreplied goals inside the 24 September Stadium in Bissau on Tuesday evening.
The Djurtus (Wild Dogs) started the game with remarkable intensity, sense of purpose and ambition, and pierced open the Eagles defence in the 10th minute but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali read the move well and nipped it before any damage could be done.
Five minutes later, the hosts were one goal up when the ever-vibrant Franciluno Dju cut inside of Bruno Onyemaechi and shot past Nwabali from the right wing.
Dju was again looking for blood in the 42nd minute when he waltzed his way into the Nigeria box, but shot over the sticks with only Nwabali to beat.
Coach Éric Chelle brought in Moses Simon and Moses Usor at the beginning of the second half, and Nigeria’s game livened up somewhat. However, Usor, who scored on his debut against Madagascar in Uyo four days earlier, saw his shot saved in the 50th minute, while Simon’s shot from close range three minutes later was too feeble to trouble the home goalkeeper.
In the 56th minute, Nwabali parried away a vicious close-range shot by Dju, but nine minutes later, Mama Baldé was at the end of another excellent work by the Djurtus that carved open the Nigerian defence, and placed the ball beyond the reach of Nwabali for the hosts’ second of the evening.
Five minutes into added time, with the Eagles throwing men forward in search of a consolation goal, Alvario Djalo added a third with a classic finish.
The defeat means Nigeria remain in second place in Group L, three points behind Guinea-Bissau, with only one team to qualify from the group.
Though, Some fans and commentators pointed fingers at the terrible state of the playing surface in Bissau, with notable content creators comparing the pitch to a “farmland” that was unfit for professional footballers.
The loss complicates Nigeria’s road to the 2027 tournament, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Madagascar and Tanzania, who drew 1-1 in Meknes, Morocco also on Tuesday, have a point each.
Next up for the Super Eagles is a home encounter against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars in Uyo on 13th November, before they fly to Dar es Salaam for their Day 4 encounter against the same team on 17th November.
The Super Eagles, however, needs to bounce back during the next international window scheduled between November 9 and 17, 2026.
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