The Super Eagles of Nigeria have lost to Guinea-Bissau for
the first time ever.
The Nigerians were defeated by their African counterparts on
Friday evening in their Group A clash of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)
qualifiers.
Jose Peseiro-led team had lost five of the last seven games
with three consecutive defeats before the match.
Victor Osimhen, brimming with the confidence of his
goal-scoring form with Napoli, had also promised that they would do “everything
to win back the love of Nigerians” before the game.
In the early stage of the match at the MKO Abiola stadium,
Samuel Chukwueze’s shot was blocked by a band of defenders after Alex Iwobi
stroked a grounder to him at the edge of the box.
A few minutes later, Osimhen had the opportunity to score
but his toe-poked effort was thwarted by Jonas Mendes, the Guinea Bissau
goalkeeper, after a defence-splitting pass from Kelechi Iheanacho.
The Djurtus grew into the match from there on, occasionally
exploiting space created by the defensive pairing of Kevin Akpogoma and Cavin
Bassey.
The away team’s effort was rewarded in the 26th minute after
a long ball from their half travelled through a fallow Nigerian central
defence.
Mama Samba Balde chased the floated cross-field pass with
Bassey and Akpoguma only catching up after the Bissau-Guinean slotted the ball
into the net through the legs of Francis Uzoho.
The goal stunned the handful of Nigerian supporters in the
stadium.
Guinea-Bissau almost doubled the lead a few minutes later
but Dalcio only scooped the ball into the side netting after eliminating Iwobi off
a counterattack.
Peseiro sent on Paul Onoachu and Moses Simon for Kelechi
Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman at the beginning of the second half and the
changes rejigged the Eagles’ attack.
Moses dragged a shot wide after a cutback from Chukwueze and
Ndidi’s weak effort of a through pass from Osimhen was halted by a recovering
defender.
The Eagles failed to beat the Djurtus who held on for a
vital victory to go top of the group with seven points.
The result means Guinea-Bissau are defeating Nigeria for the
first time in history.
The first time the teams met was in the group stage of the
2021 AFCON. The Eagles won 2-0.
The second leg of the tie will hold at the Estadio 24 de
Setembro in Bissau on Monday.
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