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Guinea-Bissau defeated Nigeria 3-0 in Bissau on Tuesday to move into a commanding position in Group L of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
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Franculino Djú, Mama Baldé and Álvaro Djaló scored as the Djurtus punished a disappointing Super Eagles performance.
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Nigeria had opened the campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar but now face increased pressure in the race for Group L’s sole additional qualification place.
September 29, (THEWILL) – Nigeria suffered a major setback in their bid to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday after Guinea-Bissau handed the Super Eagles a 3-0 defeat in Bissau.
Franculino Djú opened the scoring in the first half before captain Mama Baldé doubled Guinea-Bissau’s advantage after the break.
Álvaro Djaló then completed the victory in stoppage time as the Djurtus claimed their second win of the qualifying campaign.
The result leaves Nigeria with three points from their opening two Group L matches, after starting the campaign with a 2-1 comeback win over Madagascar in Uyo.
Guinea-Bissau, meanwhile, have now collected maximum points from their two matches after also defeating Tanzania in their opening fixture.
Guinea-Bissau Punish Slow-Starting Nigeria
The hosts began the match with greater urgency and immediately put Nigeria under pressure.
Guinea-Bissau’s approach prevented the Super Eagles from establishing control, with Nigeria struggling to create sustained attacking pressure.
The Djurtus eventually found the breakthrough in the 15th minute when Franculino Djú put the hosts ahead.
The goal gave Guinea-Bissau greater confidence as they continued to threaten Nigeria’s defence.
Nigeria struggled to produce a sustained response before the break, leaving Eric Chelle’s side trailing 1-0 at half-time.
Nigeria Fail to Find a Way Back
The Super Eagles attempted to increase their attacking pressure after the restart but were unable to turn possession into a goal.
Guinea-Bissau remained organised and continued to pose a threat whenever they moved forward.
Nigeria’s inability to find an equaliser eventually proved costly.
In the 66th minute, Baldé doubled the home side’s advantage, leaving the Super Eagles with a difficult task for the final stages of the match.
Chelle’s side attempted to respond, but Guinea-Bissau remained in control.
Nigeria’s efforts to reduce the deficit produced no breakthrough, and the hosts continued to defend their advantage effectively.
Djaló Completes the Defeat
With Nigeria pushing forward in search of a late response, Guinea-Bissau found space to deliver the final blow.
Djaló scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to make it 3-0 and complete a convincing victory for the Djurtus.
The final whistle confirmed Nigeria’s first defeat of the qualifying campaign and a result that significantly changes the early picture in Group L.
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What the Result Means for Nigeria
The defeat is particularly damaging because of the unusual qualification structure in Group L.
Tanzania are already guaranteed a place at the 2027 AFCON as one of the tournament’s co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda.
That means Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar are effectively competing for the group’s additional qualification place.
Before Tuesday’s match, Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau had both opened their campaigns with victories.
Nigeria defeated Madagascar 2-1 after coming from behind, with George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor scoring for the Super Eagles.
Guinea-Bissau had earlier beaten Tanzania 2-0, with Djú and Baldé both finding the net.
Tuesday’s result therefore gives Guinea-Bissau an important early advantage in the race.
For Nigeria, the immediate priority is to recover from the heavy defeat and prevent further dropped points in the remaining fixtures.
A Serious Early Warning for the Super Eagles
Nigeria still have plenty of football to play in the qualification campaign, but the 3-0 defeat has significantly increased the pressure on Chelle’s side.
The Super Eagles now need consistency in their remaining matches, particularly against the teams directly involved in the qualification race.
For Guinea-Bissau, the victory represents another statement of intent.
After beating Tanzania away from home in their opening fixture, the Djurtus have now defeated Nigeria and collected six points from their first two matches.
The Super Eagles, meanwhile, must find a response.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
