Guinea-Bissau stun Nigeria 3-0 in AFCON qualifying
Franculino, Mama Baldé and Alvaro Djaló scored as Guinea-Bissau beat Nigeria to lead Group L with two wins from two games in AFCON 2027 qualifying.
Guinea-Bissau beat Nigeria 3-0 on Tuesday to move to two wins from two games in Group L of qualifying for AFCON 2027.
Franculino opened the scoring in the 15th minute, Mama Baldé added a second in the 66th and Alvaro Djaló completed the rout in the 90+5th. The result puts more than 100 places of FIFA ranking on its head: Nigeria sit 26th in the world, Guinea-Bissau 132nd.
Jefferson Encada, the 28-year-old right-back who joined Estrela da Amadora from Egypt's Pharco in the summer of 2025, played the full 90 minutes for the second qualifier running, having also started the 2-0 win away to Tanzania. It is his fourth cap. Isaac James, the 22-year-old Alverca defender, was an unused substitute for Nigeria, who were already without Victor Osimhen. The Galatasaray striker is missing the qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, along with next month's friendly against Russia, because of a groin strain, with Taiwo Awoniyi called up in his place.
Guinea-Bissau lead the group on 6 points, three clear of Nigeria, and face Madagascar in the next round of fixtures. Only the group winners go through, since Tanzania's place in the finals is already secured as co-hosts, which leaves no room for the Guinea-Bissau side to drop points.
Madagascar, their next opponents, drew 1-1 with Tanzania on the same day, Cyprian Kachwele cancelling out a Nicolas Paul Julien Fontaine equaliser as Madagascar finished with 59% of possession and five shots on target to Tanzania's three. A closer look at that match is available on the Record page for the fixture.
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