Super Eagles lost the 1st leg of the 2023 AFCON qualifier played at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja by a lone goal
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigeria’s Super Eagles departed Abuja for Bissau on Sunday for the reverse fixture of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying tie against the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau.
The contingent that made the trip from Abuja to the small West African nation included 23 players, technical crew members, journalists and supporters club members.
They are expected to land at the Osvaldo Vieira International Airport, Bissau on the same day, after which Jose Peseiro and his men will have a feel of the venue of the game, Estadio 24 de Septembro.
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Guinea Bissau leapfrogged Nigeria to go top of Group A after earning a 1-0 win in the first leg of the encounter played at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Friday. March 24.
A goal in the first half of the game was all the visitors needed to shock the 2013 AFCON winners on home soil and hand them a famous victory.
Heading into the first leg in Abuja, the Super Eagles who had Serie A top scorers, Victor Osimhen and Atalanta’s Lookman Ademola in their ranks were brimming with confidence.
However, it was the less fancied Djurtus who scored the only goal of the match in the 29th minute after an inviting long ball split Nigeria’s defence and fell to a chasing Mama Samba Balde who dispatched it through Francis Uzoho’s legs.
The Nigerian team who were disappointing in the first leg of the tie, will be hoping to make amends in the Monday encounter which will start at 6pm Nigeria time, while Guinea Bissau will be aiming for another upset in from of their fans.