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Emmanuel Ikpeme admonishes Super Eagles ahead of Guinea-Bissau clash
The Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, has urged the Super Eagles to remain fully focused and avoid distractions when they face Guinea-Bissau in Tuesday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Bissau.
Ikpeme delivered the message after the Nigerian delegation arrived in Bissau on Sunday evening ahead of the Group L top-of-the-table clash. Both Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau won their opening fixtures.
The Super Eagles travelled aboard a chartered ValueJet aircraft, which landed at the Aeroporto Internacional Osvaldo Vieira at 7:07pm local time (8:07pm Nigerian time).
The delegation was welcomed by the Consul of the Embassy of Nigeria in Bissau, Mr Ifeanyi Obuneme Chukwuenyem, officials of the Guinea-Bissau Football Federation and a group of enthusiastic Nigerians led by the President of the Nigerian Community Football Association, Mr Agwu Ojukwu.
Addressing the team, Ikpeme reminded the players of Nigeria’s previous success in Bissau and stressed the importance of securing another victory.
“We were here for a similar AFCON qualifying match three years ago, and we won by a lone goal. Victory is crucial on Tuesday, and I believe you will give your all for the three points as you did three years ago, and as you did on Friday against Madagascar in Uyo,” he said.
He warned the Super Eagles against underestimating their opponents, describing Guinea-Bissau as a strong side that must be treated with respect.
“Our focus and concentration must be one hundred percent for the entire 90 minutes, because Guinea-Bissau is a very strong team in every way you look at it. We played them at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon and we needed all our strength and diligence to win. The team is not one that we can take for granted.”
Nigeria have enjoyed the better record in their previous meetings with Guinea-Bissau, winning three of their four official senior internationals.
At the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, played in January 2022, Sadiq Umar and William Troost-Ekong scored second-half goals as Nigeria defeated the Wild Dogs 2-0 in a Group D encounter at the Roumdé Adjia Stadium in Garoua.
Guinea-Bissau subsequently recorded a 1-0 victory over Nigeria in a 2023 AFCON qualifier at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on March 24, 2023.
The Super Eagles responded days later with a 1-0 win in Bissau, Moses Simon converting from the penalty spot.
Nigeria also edged Guinea-Bissau 1-0 at the 2023 AFCON finals in Côte d’Ivoire, with the match played at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.
With both teams opening the current qualifying campaign with victories, Tuesday’s encounter promises to be a crucial early test as Nigeria look to strengthen their position in Group L.