A brilliant strike from Mama Samba Baldè in the 29th minute goal was enough to condemn the Super Eagles to a 0-1 defeat at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Friday and took the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau to the top of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualification table.
Early incursions by Nigeria failed to yield dividends. Defender Bright Osayi-Samuel’s grounder was diverted away from goal in the second minute, Samuel Chukwueze’s 7th minute shot was charged down by an alert rearguard and Victor Osimhen struck the body of goalkeeper Jonas Mendes with 16 minutes gone.
The visitors had threatened in the quarter-hour when it took a quick intervention by Wilfred Ndidi to cut off Alfa Semedo Esteves in the box. The Super Eagles’ defence failed to heed that warning, and 14 minutes later, when Fali Cande heaved a long thrust forward that escaped the attention of both Calving Bassey and Kevin Akpoguma, Balde swiftly caught on, controlled the ball expertly and flicked it past onrushing Francis Uzoho for the only goal of the match.
However the introduction of Paul Onuachu and Moses Simon for Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman by Coach José Peseiro at the beginning of the second half, only created more chances, but conversion remained a problem.
In the 56th minute, Simon drew gasps from the crowd as he missed from six yards, and Mendes saved brilliantly from Osimhen when the marksman was through on goal. Chukwueze blasted a couple of opportunities over the sticks and Paul Onuachu’s header flew away from goal with 12 minutes left.
Defeat meant the Eagles slipped to second place while the Djurtus climbed to top, with seven points to the Eagles’ six, ahead of the two teams’ confrontation in Bissau on Monday evening.
The Super Eagles will be looking forward to redeem their image in the return leg away from home on Monday, March 27,2023.
