Guinea-Bissau rout Nigeria in Bissau to seize control of Group L

Match: Guinea-Bissau 3-0 Nigeria
Competition: AFCON 2027 Qualifier
Venue: Estádio 24 de Setembro, Bissau,

Guinea-Bissau delivered one of the round’s biggest surprises, thrashing Nigeria 3-0 in Bissau to top Group L with a perfect six points from two matches.

Franculino Djú, Mama Baldé and substitute Álvaro Djaló scored the goals, while the Super Eagles, coached by Eric Chelle, created chances but could not find a way through.

Both sides arrived in Bissau on three points. Guinea-Bissau had won 2-0 away to co-hosts Tanzania in their opener, while Nigeria came from behind to beat Madagascar 2-1 at home.

With Tanzania already assured of a place at the finals as one of three co-hosts, only one team from the group will qualify, which raised the stakes considerably.

Nigeria also travelled without striker Victor Osimhen, who is recovering from a groin injury.

The hosts started with real intensity and refused to let Nigeria settle or take control.

Their reward came in the 15th minute at the Estádio 24 de Setembro, when Franculino found space inside the box and converted one of Guinea-Bissau’s first clear chances to make it 1-0. Nigeria struggled to find space and went into the break still chasing the game.

Guinea-Bissau kept their defensive discipline after the interval and gave Nigeria no decisive breakthrough.

The second goal arrived in the 66th minute, when Camara set up Baldé, who finished to leave Nigeria facing an increasingly difficult recovery. The Super Eagles were creating chances, but could not convert them, and the hosts did sit deep and kept a clean sheet.

Djaló, introduced from the bench, put the result beyond doubt in the fifth minute of stoppage time, sparking celebrations in Bissau and confirming a victory few had expected before kick-off.

It was among the heaviest defeats Nigeria have suffered in recent memory, according to Nigerian media.

The result leaves Guinea-Bissau top of Group L with six points, Nigeria second on three, and Tanzania and Madagascar each on one.

Guinea-Bissau have now scored five goals without reply in their first two games, a start that has firmly put them in control of the group – only the group winners will qualify.

Nigeria must now overtake the Djurtus over the remaining fixtures, a task made harder by the size of this defeat.

Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, has since apologised to Nigerian supporters. Nigeria will get the chance to respond against Tanzania when qualifying resumes later in the year, but with a single place on offer, the margin for error is shrinking fast.