Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria’s Super Eagles: 5 reasons the Wild Dogs are a serious AFCON threat

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will on Tuesday face a Guinea-Bissau side that has already announced itself with an impressive opening-day victory in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Djurtus stunned co-hosts Tanzania 2-0 in Zanzibar City on Friday, while the Super Eagles needed a second-half comeback to beat Madagascar 2-1 in Uyo.

That leaves Guinea-Bissau top of Group L on goal difference, with both teams carrying three points into a meeting that starts at 16:00 GMT. Tanzania are already guaranteed a place at the finals as co-hosts, meaning Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau are effectively fighting with Madagascar for the group’s one available qualifying ticket.

Eric Chelle has therefore warned his players against treating Tuesday’s encounter as routine, insisting Nigeria must arrive with a “strong mentality” and produce their best performance to take three points.

Here are five reasons the Wild Dogs could cause serious problems for the Super Eagles.

Super Eagles: Why Wild Dogs are major threats

1. They have already conquered hostile territory

Guinea-Bissau’s 2-0 victory in Tanzania was not a narrow smash-and-grab. Franculino Djú broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute after Beto’s pass, before Mama Baldé doubled the lead in the 58th minute from Dalcio’s delivery. The Djurtus then controlled the closing stages to secure three points against an AFCON co-host.

2. Mama Baldé knows how to hurt Nigeria

Baldé is not an unfamiliar danger to the Super Eagles. He scored the only goal when Guinea-Bissau defeated Nigeria 1-0 in Abuja during the 2023 AFCON qualifying campaign. The Stade Brest forward is explosive, physically strong and capable of eliminating defenders with either foot.

3. Bissau brings another layer of difficulty

Nigeria must deal with more than 11 opponents. The 24 September Stadium is the setting, and the NFF reported that its pitch was in poor condition before Monday’s final training session.

Chelle refused to dwell on the surface, while the Super Eagles spent 65 minutes training there under light rain to prepare for the conditions. The Super Eagles have often struggled to play their best football on below-par pitches.

4. The Wild Dogs have defensive confidence

Guinea-Bissau did not merely score twice against Tanzania. They shut the co-hosts out and controlled the latter stages after establishing their advantage. That combination gives the hosts a platform to defend their lead aggressively against a Nigerian attack that needed until the 65th minute to find its winner against Madagascar.

5. They have nothing to fear from Nigeria’s Super Eagles

History offers Guinea-Bissau genuine belief. Their 1-0 Abuja victory in March 2023 was Nigeria’s only home defeat in that qualifying campaign.

Chelle has seen enough to issue his warning: “We respect them because they are a strong team.” His next instruction was even clearer: “We have to be at our best to earn victory.”

A victory for the Super Eagles will send Nigeria to the top of Group L and brighten the team’s chances of being a part of the party at the AFCON next year.