For a team on an unfamiliar ground, the challenge was never going to be limited to the 11 players standing in front of them, and Eric Chelle felt the Super Eagles found themselves dealing with conditions that Guinea-Bissau understood better, Footynaija.com reports.
Nigeria arrived in Bissau looking to build on their 2-1 win over Madagascar and strengthen their position in the AFCON 2027 qualifying race. Instead, the night turned into one of the most difficult tests of Chelle’s spell as Super Eagles coach.
The hosts were better from the start and took the lead through Franculino Djú in the 15th minute. Nigeria had moments to respond, with Ademola Lookman forcing a save early on and Akor Adams and Moses Simon also coming close, but Guinea-Bissau remained the more threatening side.
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Mama Baldé doubled the lead in the second half before Álvaro Djaló added a third in stoppage time, leaving Nigeria with three points from their opening two Group L matches.
Chelle points to an unfamiliar problem
The result forced Chelle to confront a performance he admitted he had not seen from his team before, but the coach also felt the playing conditions made the assignment harder for his players.
“They were more aggressive than us, more motivated. We never found a solution,” Chelle said after the match.
He then pointed to an advantage the hosts had over Nigeria.
“But the conditions were not good, they are used to their pitch and for us this was the first time to play on it.”
Guinea-Bissau coach Luís Té had already acknowledged before the game that the surface was far from ideal, saying his own players also disliked the way it looked after the rain. But the hosts knew how to deal with a pitch they regularly play on, while Nigeria had to adapt on the night.
Chelle however admitted that it was a poor performance from his team and said the Super Eagles must now move forward.
“I am very confident about my team, but today was not a good day for us,” he said. “This is the first time I see my team like that and now we have to go forward.”
