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| Photo credit — Super Eagles |
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have arrived in Bissau ahead of Tuesday’s crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea-Bissau. Both sides sit on three points in Group L after winning their opening matches and will now battle for early supremacy in a group that offers only one automatic qualification place (besides co-host Tanzania).
Nigeria’s delegation left Uyo on Sunday evening after a final training session at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. Super Eagles Media Officer Promise Efoghe confirmed that the team trained on Sunday morning before departing Victor Attah International Airport around 5 p.m. on a chartered ValueJet flight.
The contingent landed at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau at approximately 8:40 p.m. and will resume preparations for the Tuesday fixture.
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Group L Standings After Matchday 1
Nigeria opened their campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar in Uyo on Friday. Guinea-Bissau made an even stronger start, defeating co-hosts Tanzania 2-0 away from home. That result puts the Djurtus top of the group on goal difference (+2 compared with Nigeria’s +1).
Only the highest-placed team in Group L (excluding Tanzania, who already qualify as co-hosts of the 2027 tournament alongside Kenya and Uganda) will earn an automatic ticket to the finals. This makes every point critical from the outset.
Historical Context and Head-to-Head
Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau have met four times previously. The Super Eagles have won three of those encounters, with their only defeat coming in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers when Guinea-Bissau secured a shock 1-0 victory at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja. Nigeria later responded with a win in Bissau in that same campaign.
Guinea-Bissau are currently ranked 132nd in the FIFA world rankings and 38th in Africa. While they are clear underdogs on paper, their solid defensive display and clinical finishing against Tanzania show they are capable of causing problems on home soil at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro.
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What to Expect on Tuesday
The match will be played at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro in Bissau. Nigeria, under head coach Éric Chelle, will look to build on the character shown in the comeback win over Madagascar, where debutants contributed key goals. Guinea-Bissau will rely on the momentum from their away victory and the support of home fans.
A win for the Super Eagles would put them top of the group and strengthen their position in the race for the single available qualification spot. A draw or defeat would leave them needing strong results later in the campaign against Madagascar and Tanzania.
The Super Eagles are expected to train in Bissau on Monday as final preparations continue. Fans can expect a competitive encounter between a historically stronger Nigerian side and a Guinea-Bissau team that has already shown it can deliver results against higher-ranked opposition.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Technology.
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