Eric Chelle Acknowledges Super Eagles' Defeat to Guinea-Bissau

Eric Chelle, the head coach of the Super Eagles, admitted that Guinea-Bissau outperformed Nigeria in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match, resulting in a 3-0 defeat. The match took place in Bissau, where Franculino Djú scored the first goal in the 15th minute, followed by Mama Baldé in the 66th minute, and Álvaro Djaló sealed the victory with a stoppage-time goal.

Chelle noted that his players struggled to match the hosts' aggression and intensity, stating, “They were more aggressive than us… I think they were better than us in terms of personality.” He acknowledged the challenging playing conditions, including a poor pitch and hot weather, but insisted these should not serve as excuses. After halftime, Chelle attempted to shift the team's strategy to a more attacking play but admitted the players deviated from the plan after about 10 minutes.

Following the defeat, Nigeria has three points from two Group L matches, while Guinea-Bissau has six points. Chelle expressed the need for the Super Eagles to remain calm and learn from this setback, apologizing to Nigerian supporters.

The Super Eagles will next face Tanzania in two qualifiers from November 9-16, 2026.