Nigeria will resume their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign in November with three points, a goal difference of minus two and the task of catching Group L leaders Guinea-Bissau, who beat the Super Eagles 3-0 in Bissau on Tuesday to open a three-point gap at the top.
Only one team from the group can join co-hosts Tanzania, who have already secured their place at the tournament, so the four remaining matches will decide whether Éric Chelle’s side can recover from a setback that exposed them on the road.
The Super Eagles host Tanzania on November 11 and travel to face the same opponents four days later, before visiting Madagascar on March 24, 2027 and welcoming Guinea-Bissau to Nigeria on March 28 in a final group fixture that could settle the qualification race. Guinea-Bissau, meanwhile, will play Madagascar home and away in November before meeting Tanzania in March, which gives them a favourable path to protect their advantage.
The defeat at the Estádio 24 de Setembro left Nigeria chasing the game from the 15th minute, when Franculino Dju struck to put the hosts in front, and the Super Eagles never found an equaliser before half-time or after the restart. Baldé doubled the lead in the 66th minute while Guinea-Bissau kept firm control of the match, and Djalo sealed the result with a third goal in the 90+5th minute as Nigeria failed to reduce the deficit.
The loss stopped the momentum Nigeria had built on September 25, when they came from behind to beat Madagascar 2-1 in Uyo after Kari gave the visitors the lead in the 16th minute.
George Ilenikhena equalised in first-half stoppage time and Moses Usor scored the winner in the 65th minute, which gave the Super Eagles a winning start before Tuesday’s setback left them with one win and one defeat from two matches.
Guinea-Bissau, who opened their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Tanzania, now hold six points and a goal difference of plus five, and they lead a group in which Madagascar and Tanzania both sit on one point after their 1-1 draw on Tuesday.
Nigeria remain second on three points, ahead of Madagascar on minus one and Tanzania on minus two, but the gap to the leaders means the Super Eagles must collect maximum points in their remaining fixtures and hope Guinea-Bissau drop points elsewhere.
