Guinea-Bissau thrashes Nigeria 3-0 in AFCON qualifier

Guinea-Bissau defeated Nigeria 3-0 in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying Group L match at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro. Goals from Franculino Djú, Mama Baldé, and Álvaro Djaló secured the victory for the hosts, moving Guinea-Bissau to the top of the group with six points.

Nigeria, having previously defeated Madagascar 2-1, now sits in second place with three points. The heavy defeat marks Nigeria's first loss to an African opponent by three clear goals since 1990 and is their heaviest in AFCON qualifying history. The absence of striker Victor Osimhen was noted as a factor in the team's attacking struggles.

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle attributed the loss to Guinea-Bissau's superior aggression and intensity. He also cited difficult playing conditions, including a poor pitch and high temperatures, though he maintained these were not excuses for the performance. Nigeria faces a challenging path to qualification, with upcoming matches against Tanzania and a return fixture against Guinea-Bissau.

In separate football news, Nigeria's Super Sand Eagles beach soccer team is scheduled to play a two-leg friendly series against Senegal in Kaduna to prepare for their upcoming AFCON qualifying tie against Ghana.