Guinea-Bissau vs Super Eagles: 2 weaknesses Nigeria must avoid exposing

The Super Eagles will take on Guinea-Bissau in their second 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier later today, with both teams looking to build on winning starts, Afrik-Foot reports.

Nigeria came from behind to beat Madagascar 2-1 in Uyo, while Guinea-Bissau produced one of the results of the opening round by defeating Tanzania 2-0 away from home.

With both sides now on three points, Tuesday’s meeting could have a big impact on how things shape up in Group L, where only one team will qualify because AFCON 2027 co-host Tanzania already have a guaranteed place in the tournament.

Nigeria’s task has been made more difficult by the absence of Victor Osimhen, while there are also doubts over the availability of George Ilenikhena and Akor Adams.

Ahead of the clash against Guinea-Bissau, there are two weaknesses the Super Eagles must avoid exposing.

Super Eagles must avoid leaving too much space in transition

One of the biggest concerns for Nigeria is what happens when they lose possession while committing players forward. Against Madagascar, the Super Eagles sometimes had too many players ahead of the ball, leaving spaces behind if they lose possession.

That problem was visible before Madagascar took the lead. Nigeria were caught during a transition, allowing Ehsan Kari to head the Barea in front after 16 minutes.

Guinea-Bissau could be more dangerous due to the pace they have in attack, with the presence of Beto, Mama Balde and Franculino Dju.

Nigeria must therefore be careful with the positioning of their full-backs and midfielders. If too many players move forward at the same time, Guinea-Bissau could look to attack the spaces left behind and catch Nigeria on the counter.

A better balance in midfield could help the Super Eagles deal with these transitions while still allowing their attacking players to express themselves.

Nigeria must not rely on individual moments 

The second issue Nigeria must address is in their attack. The Super Eagles eventually found a way past Madagascar, but their performance was not always smooth in the final third. 

They struggled to consistently break through a compact defence before Chelle changed his tactics and effectively changed the game.

Nigeria have enough attacking quality to produce individual moments, but relying too heavily on one player to create something could make their attack predictable.

Against Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria will need more than just these moments. The Super Eagles must move the ball quickly and make use of their chances to punish their opponents.

Nigeria cannot afford to give the Djurtus too many opportunities, especially with both teams looking to build on their opening victories and move closer to the top of the Group L standings.