Guinea Bissau pulled off the upset of the week as they stunned Nigeria in Abuja, beating the Super Eagles 1-0 in their Group A 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday.
Mama Samba Balde scored the solitary strike in the 29th minute as the Guineans condemned the Nigerians to a first ever defeat in the group stage of the qualifying series in front of their home fans at the Moshood Abiola Stadium.
Nigeria made an impressive start to the contest and their best chance came when Kelechi Iheanacho set up Victor Osimhen with a brilliant pass, but the Napoli star’s goal-bound effort was blocked in the 16th minute.
Against the run of play, the visitors broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, Balde picking a long ball behind the defense from Opa Sangante before sliding the ball past Francis Uzoho.
Moments later, Fali Cande located Eucidalcio Gomes with a brilliant cross-field ball, but the latter hit the side netting despite sitting the keeper and a defender down nine minutes before the half time.
In the second half, Nigeria threw in their all to battle to get back into the game but they were unsuccessful with Samuel Chukwueze coming close twice with curling shots, substitute Moses Simon missing a sitter while substitute Paul Onuachu had a header sail inches wide.
For Nigeria, the defeat was the fourth straight losses following earlier capitulation to Portugal, Costa Rica and Algeria.
The victory away from home saw the Djurtus scale top of the group with seven points, one ahead of Nigeria who lost their first match in the qualifiers as the two sides meet again next week Monday in Bissau.
Reacting to the shock win in Abuja, Guinea head coach Baciro Cande said: “We knew it was going to be a tough game and having watched them play in the previous matches, we knew they love scoring early to destabilize the opponents.
"We made sure we didn’t concede early and we scored a good goal and kept the lead. I am delighted with the players.”
