AFCON PREVIEW: Eagles eye top of group finish — but Wild Dogs can pull off an upset

A pivotal battle will take place in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Monday when the Super Eagles lock horns with familiar foes Guinea-Bissau at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan. 

With four points from two games, the match will decide Nigeria’s final placement in the group. A win will most likely send the team top with the promise of a favourable draw in the second round, while a stalemate or loss will compound their fate in the competition.

The Eagles won their first competitive game since September 2023 when they scraped a 1-0 victory over Ivory Coast on January 18. The result also ended the country’s unsavoury four-game winless run.

Despite Guinea-Bissau’s below-par performance so far at AFCON, Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro must be aware of the threat of the Wild Dogs. In early 2023, they defeated Nigeria 1-0 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja in the AFCON qualifiers.

The Wild Dogs have zero points from two games with six goals conceded, yet the danger they can inflict still reverberates through the minds of football-loving Nigerians.

Can the three-time African champions overcome Guinea-Bissau when they file out to sieve the chaff from the wheat at 6pm Nigerian time?

Guinea-Bissau’s last outing

During Thursday’s showdown with Equatorial Guinea, the Djurtus produced a lacklustre showing and were deservedly punished for it. Emilio Nsue scored a hat trick, and Equatorial Guinea took a giant step toward the knockout stage with a 4-2 victory.

The 34-year-old Nsue became the oldest player to score a hat trick in the tournament’s history, and the first to earn three goals in a game in 16 years.

Substitute Zé Turbo scored Guinea Bissau’s consolation goal in injury time but couldn’t prevent the country’s winless run at the AFCON from stretching to 11 games.

The Djurtus are at the bottom of the group after losing both games.

Nigeria’s performance against Ivory Coast

PAOK central defender William Troost-Ekong blasted home a second-half penalty to jolt Nigeria’s campaign to life with a 1-0 win over the Elephants of Ivory Coast.

Referee Mustapha Ghorbal awarded the spot kick after consulting video replays and deciding that defender Ousmane Diomande had fouled Victor Osimhen.

Troost-Ekong confidently fired the penalty down the centre of the goal in the 55th minute.

Before the match, the Super Eagles were under pressure to get a victory after surprisingly drawing their opening game against Equatorial Guinea. Peseiro’s team however proved critics wrong by exhibiting defensive stability and ending a six-game run of conceding at least a goal.

But it was another frustrating performance from star player Osimhen, despite earning the penalty that facilitated the win.

Head to head

Monday’s match will mark the fourth time that the Super Eagles will face Guinea-Bissau, with Nigeria winning the first two games.

Team news

The Guinea-Bissau defence was battered four times against Equatorial Guinea, and coach Baciro Cande will be keen for a response from his wards.

Jonas Mendes should be in goal after some poor shows by Ouparine Djoco between the sticks.

Zé Turbo, Mama Balde and Mauro Rodrigues should also stake claims for shirts.

As for the Super Eagles gaffer, he would be working with a nearly fully fit squad for the crunch clash, with only Yusuf Alhassan’s presence doubtful.

Kelechi Iheanacho’s return to full fitness could see the Leicester City man stake a claim in the starting XI after missing the first two games.

Peseiro is in a severe selection and formation dilemma. The 3-4-3 system was effective against Ivory Coast, and there are calls for him to keep faith in it.

Prediction: Guinea-Bissau 1-3 Nigeria

Facing their most important game in recent memory, a wounded Guinea-Bissau side cannot be underestimated, even though their on-pitch endeavours against Equatorial Guinea leave much to be desired.

Nigeria were not exactly firing on all cylinders against the Elephants either and will have a hard time breaking down the Guinea-Bissau backline. Still, Peseiro’s team should be able to find their shooting boots and top the group.