AFCON Qualifiers: Guinea-Bissau thrash Super Eagles 3-0, hand Chelle first loss

Guinea-Bissau handed the Super Eagles their first defeat under Eric Chelle with a 3-0 victory in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying clash in Bissau on Tuesday.

Franculino Dju put the hosts ahead in the 15th minute, curling the ball into the far corner beyond Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

The Super Eagles struggled to respond before the break, with Guinea-Bissau holding on to their advantage and keeping Nigeria from creating clear chances.

Chelle made two changes at half-time in an attempt to change the course of the match. Moses Usor and Moses Simon replaced Frank Onyeka and Taiwo Awoniyi.

The changes, however, failed to produce the desired response as Guinea-Bissau extended their lead in the 66th minute.

Mama Baldé finished the move to put the hosts two goals ahead and leave Nigeria facing an uphill task in the closing stages.

Nigeria came close to reducing the deficit in the 87th minute when George Ilenikhena found an opening inside the area.

His effort, however, met the resistance of Guinea-Bissau goalkeeper Djoco Embadje, who produced a close-range save to preserve the hosts’ two-goal advantage.

Guinea-Bissau then put the result beyond doubt deep into stoppage time when Álvaro Djaló scored the third goal in the fifth minute of added time.

The defeat marked Chelle’s first since he took charge of the Super Eagles, ending his unbeaten start with the national team.

Nigeria had opened their qualifying campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar, but the latest result leaves the side with three points from two matches.

Guinea-Bissau, meanwhile, moved to six points after winning both of their opening matches. The hosts had earlier defeated Tanzania 2-0.

The Super Eagles now face the task of recovering from the setback as the qualifying campaign continues, with the group position tightening after Tuesday’s result.