Eric Chelle was handed his first competitive defeat at the helm as Nigeria suffered a decisive setback in the race to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, losing 3-0 to Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday.
Franculino Dju beat Bruno Onyemaechi to send a curling effort past a frozen Stanley Nwabali after just 15 minutes to give the hosts the lead.
Mama Balde, who scored the winner in Abuja in 2023, doubled the advantage on 65 minutes, and with Nigeria pressing to reduce the deficit, Alvario Djalo put the cherry on top in stoppage time, dancing past a sea of Nigeria legs to score.
Chelle, who had started his Nigeria tenure undefeated in competitive fixtures going into the game, went with a slightly changed lineup upfront, sending Taiwo Awoniyi to join Akor Adams from the start, while sacrificing Samuel Chukwueze for a midfielder, but the condition of the field meant the Super Eagles were never really able to get out of first gear.
The loss sends Guinea-Bissau three points clear at the top of the group, with four matches still to come, and leaves the Super Eagles now needing to win all four remaining games to even stand a chance of making it to the Finals next year. Guinea-Bissau now hold the head-to-head advantage and can afford to lose by two goals in the reverse fixture and still advance ahead of the Super Eagles, as long as they do not drop points elsewhere.
Poor pitch does not excuse poor performance
Ola Aina suffered a long-term injury when South Africa took their game against Nigeria to a poor pitch.
Despite being in the squad and starting at home against Madagascar, Aina was not featured at all in this game in what looked like a sign that the defender was not entirely comfortable with running out onto another dodgy pitch.
The Super Eagles' lackadaisical approach aside, they seemed hesitant to do anything on that pitch that could result in injury. Tackles were halfhearted, duels were less than 50-50 and challenges were almost non-existent.
Still, there is no excuse for players turning up and failing to give absolutely everything when they suit up in national colours.
There is an argument to be made against the kind of pitches approved by the governing body for this tournament.
CAF had no business approving that stadium for international games, and the earlier they revoke that approval, the better for football. And their reputation.
Nigeria's counterattacking exposed again
Over the last four meetings, games between these two have been decided by the odd goal. Any expectations of a big scoreline would have been somewhat farfetched. But the moment Nwabali stood frozen to allow Dju's curling strike past him, it looked like being a long night for the Super Eagles.
So far under Chelle, the Eagles have made themselves a difficult team to break down, even against opposition of superior strength to the likes of Guinea-Bissau. That appears to have changed in the last two games. Madagascar broke through at will in transition and could have scored a second goal on Friday, but for great goalkeeping by Nwabali.
In Bissau, all three goals were the result of counterattacks, with both the Nigeria midfield and defence caught high up the pitch against swift forwards.
With four games to go to salvage their Nations Cup hopes, Chelle will have to decide what to do about that high line and the danger it defines for his team.
Nwabili performance reopens goalkeeping conversation
For one game, it looked like Nwabali had returned and put to rest any questions about who the first-choice goalkeeper for Nigeria was. Yes, he had a moment in that Madagascar game when the first goal went in, but that could almost be excused.
However, his showing against Guinea-Bissau was far from convincing. It was a day when almost every player on the team played below sub-par. But those are the sort of days when great goalkeepers show up and show out.
Vincent Enyeama's greatness was cemented for years. He was sometimes the lone resistance between Nigeria's opponents and goals, including at least twice against Lionel Messi.
But Nwabali failed to stand up here. Twice he failed to even move, watching as the first and last goals just sailed past him.
His defenders, or course, share in the blame, but that is exactly what separates a great goalkeeper from a good goalkeeper.
Chelle will now have to run the rule once again over the competition, with Maduka Okoye and Arthur Okonkwo ready to step in.
Nigeria's biggest defeat
It has been a long time since the Super Eagles were handed a defeat this heavy, especially by an African team. We would have to go all the way back to AFCON 1990, when they lost 5-1 to Algeria. Before that, it was in 1982 when Zambia beat the Eagles 3-0.
No other African team has managed to put that many goals behind the Super Eagles. Until now. Even Guinea-Bissau themselves almost did not seem to believe their good fortune.
But it was a result they earned deservedly. Pushing from the front foot, defending stoutly against Nigeria's inconsistent, uncreative attack, they took advantage with speed and skill whenever the opportunity presented itself to run at the Super Eagles.
