The Super Eagles had a crazy four days against Guinea-Bissau as both teams got one over each other.
Eagles were the heavy favourites to dispatch the Djurtus, but it wasn’t to be as they found the Guinea-Bissau NT to be a tougher nut to crack.
Baciro Cande’s Men landed the first blow, as they got a shock win in Abuja, and against all odds too.
They defeated Nigeria 1-nil thanks to a well worked move, cutting off the midfield with a long ball behind a porous wall of defence, for Mama Balde to finish ever so effortlessly.
However, Nigeria returned the favour when Moses Simon’s penalty proved to be enough as the decider.
But, there were three sticking points from this tie and Adeoluwa Olaniyi in this piece takes a cursory look at each:
THE PITCH
It is really sad that this has to be a talking point at this age in African football, but what can we do as the stadiums used by both National Federations were nothing to write home about.
The first leg was hosted at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja, and the home ground of the Super Eagles was really below standards.
Its playing surface was visibly horrible and it proved to be a disadvantage to both teams.
The second leg was played at the Estádio 24 de Setembro in Bissau, and yet again it was another sad experience, sore for the eyes.
Each made fluid football almost impossible, CAF observed these challenges and it is on them to ensure that Member Associations adhere to high standards for televised games or even not.
MIND GAMES
The first leg result was intriguing, because not only was it unexpected, it was deserved.
Nigeria had the bigger advantage and the luxury of starting Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze; players who have had a combine 78-goal contribution in Europe, but they couldn’t find the back of the net.
Interestingly, coach Baciro Cande after that victory stated, that “big names don’t Play football on the pitch”, referring to the array of talent on display by Nigeria.
The claim seemed to rock the camp of the Super Eagles, even head coach Jose Peseiro reacted and voiced his team’s determination to beat Guinea-Bissau silly.
Rather than hand them a beating, the Eagles struggled again, away from home and seemed to be too hesitant in decision-making.
Despite starting brightly, Nigeria struggled as a team in what was another reminder that football succeeds as a team sport.
VICTOR OSIMHEN
After 180 minutes of football one question Serie A defenders will be asking Guinea-Bissau is, ” how they managed to keep Victor Osimhen quiet across two games?”
The Napoli hitman has been a wrecking ball this season, bulldozing through defenses and helping himself to 25 goals in 29 appearances in all competitions.
He had also grabbed a brace in his last two games before facing Guinea-Bissau, but somehow failed to score against them.
Osimhen was guilty of missing a few chances he could have easily converted any other day, and was starkly reminded that the quality of service in the National team was different compared to his club side.
The 24 year-old was also a victim of some tough treatment by the opposition defense and like the incident with Samuel Chukwueze, his teammates wanted to go for Glory, putting self-glory over the team.
Meanwhile, It will be back to club business for the Nigerian as Napoli are set to face AC Milan three times in their next five fixtures across all competitions, we might soon be reminded of the Marksman true predatory nature when he returns to Naples, where he is also idolized.
