Nigeria’s Super Eagles will on Monday take on Guinea Bissau in the reverse fixture of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at the Estadio 24 de Setembro in Bissau .
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Nigeria suffered a 1-0 defeat at the Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja last Friday being the first leg of the double-header of the qualifying game.
Recall that Mama Balde’s first-half goal gave the Guinea-Bissau the victory over Nigeria and took the Wild Dogs to the top of group A with 7 points, 1 point ahead of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Eagles arrived Bissau on Sunday where Nigerians in the country welcome the team and the delegation.
The Ambassador of Nigeria to Guinea Bissau, John James Usanga who visited the team urged the Super Eagles to redeem the pride of Nigeria by beating their opponent in today’s qualifiers.
The ambassador reminded the players that football is a unifyng factor in Nigeria and urged the players to pick the maximum points against Guinea-Bissau.
“You’re Welcome to Guinea-Bissau and we are all excited to have you. We are hopeful that you will redeem our national pride. You know that you have our full support. Mr President sent his greetings and I said he needs a party gift from the Super Eagles. And he wants me to let you know that there is so much hope on the team because we found out that soccer is very strong unifying factor in Nigeria.
“I want to encourage you that we are with you. There is nothing in this place, this people are our younger brothers. So I know that whatever transpired in Abuja happened. But here hopes are high and we are hopeful for a positive outcome.
“All the Nigerian communities are solidly behind you. They will be with you until you leave.Whatever the outcome, just make sure you enjoy yourselves.”
Meanwhile, Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has told his team to avoid the same mistakes which led to their defeat against the Guinea-Bissau last Friday.
” The performance was not bad but we need to score goals. That’s the most important thing. It is not normal when a team like us missed too many chances like we did on Friday. We moved the ball well, played offensively too and shoot the ball well. I think it is better you create opportunities than not. I want my team to do the same but avoid mistakes. We made too many mistakes in the first game. We must avoid doing same in the second game. It’s important for us to be clinical in front of goal, to finish well when we have the chances” Peseiro said.
Captain of the Wild Dogs of Guinea-Bissau, Braima Nogueira Jorge has boasted that his side will wait for the Super Eagles of Nigeria and beat them for the second time in less than a week.
“Nigeria is blessed with talented players who are well known all over the world playing for top clubs. We scored a goal and defended well to frustrate Nigeria. It is a good win and we want to return home to complete the job, ” Jorge said.
Another group opponent, Sierra Leone has Pile more pressure on Super Eagles and Guinea-Bissau after recording an away win against São Tomé & Principe at the weekend.
The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone defeated São Tomé and Principe 2-0 on match day four in Group A of the qualifiers on Sunday.
It was Sierra Leone’s first win in the qualifiers after drawing two and losing one of their first three fixtures.
In their first leg tie last week Wednesday São Tomé held Sierra Leone to a 2-2 draw.
The win means Sierra Leone, now in third position and on five points, are just one point behind the Super Eagles of Nigeria and two adrift of group leaders Guinea-Bissau.
Up next for the Leone Stars is a home tie against the Super Eagles on match day five billed for 11 June 2023.
