3 days ago
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Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has admitted that Guinea-Bissau were the better side after Nigeria suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday.
The defeat came three days after Nigeria secured a 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar in their opening qualifying fixture, but Chelle’s side struggled to replicate that performance against the Djurtus.
Guinea-Bissau took control of the encounter and went ahead in the first half through Franculino Djú, before Mama Baldé doubled their advantage after the break.
Álvaro Djaló completed the rout in stoppage time as Nigeria endured a frustrating night against a side that showed more intensity and determination.
Speaking after the match, Chelle acknowledged that Guinea-Bissau deserved the victory, admitting that his team failed to match the hosts’ aggression.
“They were more aggressive than us; they were better than us,” Chelle said.
The Super Eagles coach, however, pointed to the difficult conditions surrounding the match, including the playing surface and weather, as factors that affected his team’s performance.
“Though this is not an excuse, they know their pitch. They usually play on this pitch, but for us, it was the first time, and the pitch was very bad. The weather was very hot too.”
Chelle said Guinea-Bissau entered the game with greater motivation and intensity, while Nigeria struggled to find answers throughout the encounter.
“Guinea-Bissau entered the game more motivated and more aggressive. They put more intensity, and we never found a solution.”
The coach added that attempts to change the direction of the match after halftime failed to produce the desired result.
“We tried to go forward after halftime, to bring something new, but after 10 minutes, we stopped, and I don’t know why.”
The result leaves Nigeria with questions to address as the qualification campaign continues, with Chelle and his players expected to regroup ahead of their next fixture.
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