AFCONQ Nigeria 0 Guinea-Bissau 1 : Super Eagles suffer shock loss against Djurtus

Nigeria's chances of qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast was dented on Friday evening as they were beaten 1-0 by Guinea-Bissau at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja. 

The shocking defeat means the three-time African champions have a huge task on their hands with a win away against the visitors in the reverse leg on Monday the only option to remain in the frame for automatic qualification as one of the two teams from Group A. 

The Eagles began brightly with some good passes and few chances created mostly by Alex Iwobi 

Kelvin Akpoguma making his seventh international appearance produced a brilliant tackle to get the supporters in the stands excited.

However, Guinea-Bissau gradually asserted themselves in the game and it paid off in the 29th minute when danger man Mama Balde pounced on a lofted ball over the central defenders who were flat on their lines. 

Balde soon got another opportunity to double the visitors' lead before the break but his lobbed effort saw the ball nestle on top of the post.

In the 43rd minute, Everton forward, Iwobi threaded a pass that eluded the duo of Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.

Lookman was presented a chance to make amends for his below par showings thus far but his free kick before the break went agonizingly wide.

Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho were replaced by Moses Simon and Paul Onuachu at halftime.

Moses Simon's left footed shot inside the six-yard box from a Samuel Chukwueze pass went out of play.

Wilfred Ndidi was the next culprit to miss a gilt-edged chance to retire parity with an hour played from a clever Osimhen lofted pass but the Leicester midfielder sought a teammate rather than taking a shot at goal.

Samuel Chukwueze let fly a shot in the box after he was teed up by Bright Osayi-Samuel 17 minutes before full time. 

Onuachu's header from a Moses Simon cross went narrowly wide in the closing minutes.

After three rounds in Group A of AFCON qualifying, Guinea-Bissau are topping the group with seven points garnered, one more than Nigeria.

Both teams meet again on Monday at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro.
  
         

Izuchukwu Michael

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