Guinea-Bissau consolidated their leadership of Group L of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series after stunning the Super Eagles of Nigeria 3-0 at the 24 September Stadium in Bissau on Tuesday.
The Djurtus, also known as the Wild Dogs, started the game with remarkable intensity, purpose and ambition, piercing open the Eagles’ defence in the 10th minute before goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali read the move well and intervened to prevent any damage.
Five minutes later, however, the hosts went ahead when the ever-vibrant Franciluno Dju cut inside Bruno Onyemaechi and fired past Nwabali from the right wing.
Dju went close to doubling the advantage in the 42nd minute when he waltzed his way into the Nigeria box but shot over the bar with only Nwabali to beat.
Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle introduced Moses Simon and Moses Usor at the beginning of the second half, and Nigeria’s game improved somewhat.
Usor, who scored on his debut against Madagascar in Uyo four days earlier, saw his effort saved in the 50th minute, while Simon’s close-range shot three minutes later was too weak to trouble the Guinea-Bissau goalkeeper.
Nwabali parried away a vicious close-range effort from Dju in the 56th minute, but the hosts doubled their advantage nine minutes later.
Mama Baldé finished another impressive move by the Djurtus that carved open the Nigerian defence, placing the ball beyond Nwabali’s reach to make it 2-0.
With the Eagles throwing players forward in search of a consolation goal, Alvario Djalo added a third five minutes into added time with a clinical finish.
The defeat leaves Nigeria second in Group L, three points behind Guinea-Bissau, with only one team to qualify from the group.
Madagascar and Tanzania, who drew 1-1 in Meknes, Morocco, also on Tuesday, have one point each.
Next up for the Super Eagles is a home encounter against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars in Uyo on November 13, before they travel to Dar es Salaam for their Day 4 encounter against the same opposition on November 17.
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