AFCON 2023 Nigeria 0-1 Guinea-Bissau: Super Eagles Disgracefully Defeated On Home Soil

Nigeria suffered their first loss of the AFCON 2023 qualifying campaign after Guinea-Bissau picked up a stunning 1-0 win at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
A lone goal by Mama Samba Balde in the first half proved to be the decisive moment of the game irrespective of Nigeria’s best efforts to salvage at least a point from a 1-1 draw.
The Super Eagles started the game with expected effervescence as they aimed to please the home fans at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

The in-form Victor Osimhen was presented with two clear cut chances he normally would have put away, heading wide from close range after five minutes and then failing to dribble the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation.
Nigeria pressed on to push and looked more likely to score until the goal came in the 29th minute when Guinea-Bissau took the lead against the run of play.

Opa Sangante found the run of Mama Samba Balde with a delightful pass over the Nigerian defenders which the striker controlled beautifully and slotted through the legs of the onrushing Francis Uzoho.

Nigeria continued to create dangerous chances but lacked the necessary cutting edge in the final third which was strange for a nation with high-flying forwards in European football.

The first half came to an end and Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro responded with two halftime substitutions in a bid to change the outcome.
Moses Simon and Paul Onuachu started the second half off the bench having replaced Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho respectively but try as they may, they were unable to find the equaliser.

Kevin Akpoguma suffered what looked like a serious head injury which led to a delay and eventual substitution in the 55th minute to be replaced by Semi Ajayi.

Simon spurned a good chance shortly after, dragging wide off the post a shot after being cleverly set up by the lively Samuel Chukwueze.
Ndidi also pushed forward in the 59th minute and missed a great scoring opportunity in what was the recurring theme of the evening for Nigeria.

The Super Eagles created chance after chance and ended the match with 17 goal attempts, 10 more than Her opponent but only three were on target which is precisely why they lost.

As a result, the Super Eagles have dropped to second in the group with six points, now a point behind Guinea-Bissau who they will now face three days later away from home.