The Super Eagles have arrived in Bissau ahead of their top-of-the-table clash with the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau in Group L of the 2027 AFCON qualifying series. The Nigerian contingent landed in Bissau on Sunday evening aboard a chartered ValueJet aircraft. The team was received by the Consul of the Embassy of Nigeria in Bissau, Mr. Ifeanyi Obuneme Chukwuenyem, officials of the Guinea Bissau Football Federation, and a group of excited Nigerians.
Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, has urged the Super Eagles to remain focused and avoid distractions in their upcoming match against Guinea Bissau. Ikpeme emphasized the importance of a 100 percent focus and concentration for the entire 90 minutes, citing Guinea Bissau's strength as a team. The Super Eagles won their first-day encounter, as did Guinea Bissau, setting the stage for a crucial match.
The Super Eagles and Guinea Bissau have a history of intense matches, with the Eagles winning three out of four official encounters between the teams. Their most recent match was at the AFCON finals in Cote d’Ivoire, where Nigeria won by a lone goal. However, Guinea Bissau shocked the Super Eagles with a lone goal in a 2023 AFCON qualifying match in Abuja.
The Confederation of African Football has appointed Ethiopian referees to take charge of Tuesday’s encounter. Tewodros Mitiku will be the match referee, assisted by Fasika Biru Fasika, Tigle Belachew, and Manuhe Woldetsadik. Senegalese official Yaya Balde will serve as the commissioner, while Papa Bakary Gassama from The Gambia will be the referee assessor.
The Super Eagles are seeking to build on their momentum after a win against Madagascar in Uyo on Friday. Dr Ikpeme reminded the team of their previous victory against Guinea Bissau in a similar AFCON qualifying match three years ago, where they won by a lone goal. The team is expected to give their all for the three points, just as they did in the previous match.
The match is set to commence at 4 pm Guinea Bissau time, which is 5 pm in Nigeria. The 24 September Stadium in Bissau will host the encounter, which promises to be an exciting and intense match. The Super Eagles will look to make a statement and take a crucial step towards qualifying for the 2027 AFCON.
The team's preparation and focus will be crucial in determining the outcome of the match. With a strong team and a history of success against Guinea Bissau, the Super Eagles are confident of securing a win. However, they will need to be at their best to overcome the Wild Dogs, who are also determined to secure a victory.
Key points
- The Super Eagles must be 100 percent focused to overcome the strong Guinea Bissau team.
- The match will be refereed by Ethiopian officials, led by Tewodros Mitiku.
- The Super Eagles have a history of success against Guinea Bissau, winning three out of four official encounters.
