Guinea-Bissau beat the Super Eagles 3-0 in Bissau on Tuesday. Here are the goals, the Nigeria line-up, Eric Chelle’s reaction and the updated Group L table.
Guinea-Bissau 3-0 Nigeria was a heavy setback for Eric Chelle’s side. The Super Eagles went to Bissau on Tuesday level on points at the top of Group L and came home well beaten, after Franculino Djú, Mama Baldé and Álvaro Djaló scored for the Djurtus. Here’s how the game went, who played, what Chelle said and what the defeat means for AFCON 2027 qualifying.
Guinea-Bissau beat Nigeria 3-0 at the Estádio 24 de Setembro in Bissau on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. It was Matchday 2 of Group L in AFCON 2027 qualifying.
The full match data is on ESPN’s match page. Djú and Baldé also scored in Guinea-Bissau’s 2-0 win away to Tanzania on Matchday 1, so the same pair have now decided both of the Djurtus’ games.
Chelle made changes from the side that beat Madagascar, and debut scorers George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor both started on the bench. Frank Onyeka, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Taiwo Awoniyi came into the team.
Nigeria XI: Stanley Nwabali; Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi; Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi; Ademola Lookman, Taiwo Awoniyi, Akor Adams.
Ilenikhena and Adams had trained apart from the group on Monday, as our Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria preview reported, but Adams was fit to start. Victor Osimhen missed the window through injury. Every player’s club and position is on our Super Eagles squad page.
Guinea-Bissau were quicker, sharper and more dangerous on the counter. Nigeria had plenty of the ball but created very few clear chances, and they were punished for defensive lapses.
After Djú’s early opener, Ademola Lookman forced a save, but the Super Eagles went in a goal down. Chelle then acted at half-time. Moses Usor replaced Onyeka and Moses Simon replaced Awoniyi, and the pair combined for an early chance after the break. However, Usor’s finish was too tame to trouble the goalkeeper.
Instead, Baldé made it 2-0 midway through the second half. Tolu Arokodare, Ilenikhena and Raphael Onyedika came on as Nigeria chased the game. Ilenikhena had the best chance to reduce the deficit on 87 minutes, but the Guinea-Bissau goalkeeper saved from close range. Then Djaló finished the job in the fifth minute of added time.
Chelle admitted Guinea-Bissau deserved the win. “They were more aggressive than us… I think they were better than us in terms of personality,” he said, as reported by Premium Times.
He also pointed to the conditions in Bissau. “This is not an excuse, but if you look at the conditions, they know their pitch… the pitch was very, very bad,” Chelle said. Even so, he backed his players to respond: “I’m very confident about my team and this group. Today was not a good day for us.”
Yes. This is the second time Guinea-Bissau have beaten Nigeria in AFCON qualifying. The Djurtus also won 1-0 in Abuja in March 2023, although Nigeria still qualified for that tournament.
Nigeria have now won three of the five competitive meetings, and Guinea-Bissau have won two. Tuesday’s 3-0 is the widest margin in the fixture.
Nigeria are second in Group L on three points, three behind Guinea-Bissau. Madagascar and Tanzania drew 1-1 in the group’s other Matchday 2 game.
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guinea-Bissau | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| Nigeria | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Madagascar | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Tanzania | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
The gap matters more than usual. Tanzania have already qualified as co-hosts, so only one of Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar will reach the finals. As a result, Guinea-Bissau now hold a three-point lead and a much better goal difference in the race for that single place. Our AFCON 2027 qualifying guide explains the format, and the official competition news is on CAF’s website.
Yes, but Nigeria probably need to win most of their last four games and beat Guinea-Bissau at home. There are 12 points still to play for.
Matchdays 3 and 4 are a home-and-away double-header against Tanzania in the November international window, games Chelle has stressed are important. After that, Nigeria play Madagascar and host Guinea-Bissau in the final two rounds. That home game against the Djurtus now looks like the one that will decide the group.
Nigeria’s next game is a friendly against Russia at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. It gives Chelle a quick chance to respond before the November qualifiers.
Read what we know about the Nigeria vs Russia friendly, or look back at the Nigeria 2-1 Madagascar report from Friday. All confirmed dates and kick-off times are on our Super Eagles fixtures page.
Franculino Djú (15′), Mama Baldé (66′) and Álvaro Djaló (90+5′) scored for Guinea-Bissau. Nigeria did not score.
The match was played at the Estádio 24 de Setembro in Bissau on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, in Group L of AFCON 2027 qualifying.
Chelle said Guinea-Bissau were more aggressive and better in terms of personality, mentioned the poor pitch without using it as an excuse, and said he is still very confident in his squad.
Nigeria play a friendly against Russia in Nizhny Novgorod on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. Their next AFCON 2027 qualifiers are home and away against Tanzania in November.
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Match facts: CAF, ESPN, Channels TV, Premium Times, Vanguard and TheCable. Chelle quotes as reported by Premium Times.
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