- Beaten 0-1 at MKO Stadium in Abuja
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – On a night that Coach Jose Peseiro continued his losing streak as Nigeria’s National team manager, the Super Eagles suffered a humiliating 0-1 home defeat to 118th-ranked Guinea Bissau in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers inside the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
The result was the Eagles’ fourth consecutive loss under Peseiro watch as a 29th minute goal from Mama Balde sent the visitors to the top of Group A with seven points from three matches.
Going into Friday’s match seeking to redeem themselves with a victory against Guinea Bissau, the Eagles looked ill-prepared as the visitors deployed and executed their game plan to perfection in running out as 1-0 victors.
Lining up a minor rejig squad from the one that got walloped 4-0 by Portugal last November, the Portuguese gaffer brought in Zaidu Sanusi to replace William Troost-Ekong while Joe Aribo, Moses Simon, and Terem Moffi all started on the bench.
However, it was Guinea Bissau’s goalkeeper Dalcio Gomes who was called to action in the 16th minute with his first save off Kelechi Iheanacho’s pass that sent Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen through on goal.
The shocker for the Abuja Stadium crowd came in the 30th minute when Balde outran two Nigerian defenders after deftly collecting a long lofted ball from Opa Sangante from the halfway line.
With both Nigeria’s central defenders, Calvin Bassey and Kevin Akpoguma, caught napping, the Djurtus’ striker nicely controlled the ball and had time to push it under the onrushing Francis Uzoho in goal for Nigeria.
Things almost got worst for the Eagles as Dalcio Gomes fluffed a chance of making it two in the 36th minute when despite having the better of both Uzoho and Alex Iwobi, he shot into the side netting.
Though Paul Onuachu and Moses Simon came on at the start of the second half to replace the ineffective Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman, the Eagles could not find an equalizer with their timid display upfront.
As the Eagles piled on the pressure on the visitors, a great chance for an equaliser presented itself for Simon from Chukwueze, but the Nantes man slid his shot past the post.
The Eagles got another scoring chance on the half-hour mark but Ndidi, after he was put through by Osimhen, flattered with a feeble goal-bound shot that was easily cleared by the Guinea Bissau’s defenders.
The extra five minutes of added time saw Guinea Bissau warding off all attacks to enjoy a famous win that had them displacing Nigeria at the top of Group A. Both sides will meet again in Morocco on Monday with the Eagles hoping to secure a quick revenge.
