Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria preview: Eagles need win, draw to advance
On Monday, or today, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on Guinea-Bissau in the hopes of advancing from their Africa Cup of Nations Group A with at least a draw.
After winning 0-1 against Ivory Coast and drawing 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea in their opening two matches, Nigeria is ranked second in Group A.
Despite losing their opening two games, Guinea-Bissau will try to shock the Eagles when they play at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium.
Indeed, this match will serve as our benchmark. Coach Baciro Condé of Guinea-Bissau stated, "We hope to make a success of our exit in the absence of having had a good tournament. We have thoroughly analysed the Super Eagles' game."
According to Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, the team will watch the video of their defeat to Guinea-Bissau and devise a plan of attack to defeat their fellow West Africans.
We had a game against them in the qualifying round, so we know them. Osimhen told reporters in Abidjan, "If you let them play, they are a dangerous team."“
But Nigeria is determined not to suffer the same shocking 1-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau that they suffered in the group stage of the 2023 AFCON qualifying last year.
The moment is all that matters. We pay attention to the here and now. We think well of ourselves. We have to stay alert because Equatorial Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire are also in first place, which is what we are going for," Super Eagles coach José Peseiro emphasized.
The team's only goal, according to defender Kenneth Omeruo, is to win the AFCON trophy in Ivory Coast.
"We know exactly what we want to accomplish. Take the cup inside. We haven't added a trophy to our cabinet in a while, which is inappropriate when you're wearing a green shirt, Omeruo said.
"I won't claim that our loss to them was a coincidence, but it doesn't represent the mindset that permeates our camp right now. We must do everything in our power to realize our goals because we are ravenous for victory," he continued.
On the other side, on Monday (today) at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe, hosts Ivory Coast plays Equatorial Guinea in a match that they absolutely must win.
Following their devastating 1-0 loss to Nigeria, the Elephants must win all three games to guarantee their spot in the competition's knockout stages.
If they lose, the Ivorians will be very disappointed because they have supported the host nation so admirably in their two matches.
AFCON fans can expect a great deal of suspense from both of the Group A matches, which will be played simultaneously at 6 p.m. (Nigerian time).