Super Eagles: 3 reasons Nigeria must avoid slow start against Guinea-Bissau

The Super Eagles face Guinea-Bissau in their second game of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Tuesday as they look to build on their opening win over Madagascar, Afrik-Foot reports.

Nigeria defeated Madagascar 2-1 in their opening game last Friday, coming from a goal down to seal a hard-fought victory and put themselves on three points.

Eshan Kari gave the Barea a shock lead in the first half before George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor, both making their Super Eagles debuts, scored in each half to complete the comeback.

The Super Eagles are now level on three points with Guinea-Bissau, who also won their opening encounter by defeating co-hosts Tanzania 2-0.

Trabzonspor striker Franculino Djú and Mama Baldé scored the goals that gave Guinea-Bissau the victory and moved them to the top of Group L on goal difference, with five games still to come before the qualifiers end in March 2027.

Nigeria had another slow start against Madagascar, having to come from behind to secure all three points.

With only one team qualifying from the group due to Tanzania’s presence as one of the hosts, there is little room for mistakes, and Nigeria must avoid starting slowly once again.

Why Super Eagles must avoid a slow start against Guinea-Bissau

1. A slow start will put pressure on the team

The Super Eagles must avoid coming off the blocks slowly against Guinea-Bissau to prevent putting unnecessary pressure on themselves from the start.

Conceding another early goal would make it difficult for Nigeria to control the game, as they would first have to chase an equaliser before then looking for the winning goal.

That could put the team under even more pressure, especially with only one qualification spot available in the group. Nigeria were not at their best during the early stages against Madagascar and conceded while they were struggling to find their rhythm before eventually turning the game around.

If they start slowly again, they could struggle to control the tempo and may find themselves chasing the game. That can lead to missed chances, poor decision-making and unnecessary mistakes that could eventually cost them.

The Super Eagles also need another win to move to six points and create an early gap between themselves and the other teams in the group.

Building a strong position early would help Nigeria avoid another situation where they have to rely on permutations and chase qualification late in the campaign, just like it happened during their failed 2026 World Cup qualification campaign.

2. Guinea-Bissau look more dangerous than Madagascar

Guinea-Bissau made a strong start to their qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Tanzania. They controlled large periods of the game and took their chances well, with Franculino Djú and Mama Baldé finding the net.

🚨 La Guinée-Bissau 🇬🇼 𝑺’𝑰𝑴𝑷𝑶𝑺𝑬 en Tanzanie 🇹🇿 (0-2) ! 🌍🔥 pic.twitter.com/Hi3c6btcpI

— 🏆 Actu Foot Afrique (@ActuFootAfrique) September 25, 2026

Their performance showed that they could pose a serious threat to Nigeria, especially if the Super Eagles allow them to settle into the game. Therefore, they cannot afford to give Guinea-Bissau an early advantage.

The pace and movement of the likes of Franculino and Baldé could cause problems for the Nigerian defence, especially if Guinea-Bissau are allowed to attack with confidence. While Nigeria managed to recover after conceding against Madagascar, they may not get away with making the same mistake against Guinea-Bissau.

A slow start could give the opposition the confidence to attack more freely, and Nigeria could eventually regret allowing them to gain that momentum.

3. Goal difference could matter later in the group

Nigeria must also avoid another slow start because they need to build a healthy goal difference as the qualifiers progress. The Super Eagles currently sit second in Group L after conceding against Madagascar, leaving them with a +1 goal difference.

Guinea-Bissau, meanwhile, have a +2 goal difference following their 2-0 victory over Tanzania and currently sit above Nigeria in the standings.

That could become important later in the campaign, particularly if the teams finish level on points. Nigeria therefore need to make their chances count and avoid putting themselves in a position where they have to fight for a narrow win after conceding an early goal.

A strong start could help them control the game, create more chances and potentially add more goals to their tally.

The Super Eagles will be hoping to secure another victory against Guinea-Bissau, move to six points and take an early lead in the group as they look to put themselves in a strong position to qualify for the 2027 AFCON.