Guinea Bissau shock hapless Eagles 1-0 in Abuja

Super Eagles suffer shock defeat to Guinea Bissau in AFCON qualifiers, raising questions about team's performance and coach's decisions.

The Super Eagles lined up ahead of their crucial nations cup qualifier against Guinea Bissau in Abuja. The visitors won 1-0. (Photo credit: BBC)

If you assumed that the Super Eagles' World Cup ticket loss to Ghana in front of their home fans would be their lowest point ever, you could not have been more wrong. On Friday, these surprising performers experienced their lowest point ever against visiting Guinea Bissau.

Although many did not trust coach Jose Peseiro's invitees, who included a humorous academy player and a number of benchwarmers from various European leagues.

You still wouldn't expect any starting lineup from a supposedly enormous team like the Super Eagles to choose anything less than a victory versus Guinea Bissau.

Football matches are won by willing players, not by famous players.

And the visitors threw all pretense of respect out the window to defeat Nigeria comfortably on their turf for the first time ever.

Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze, the Nigerian team's star forward trio, toiled valiantly in the opening period.

But the visitors opened the scoring as Mama Balde lashed on to a long ball, took it down brilliantly then slipped a shot past Francis Uzoho.

At the start of the second half, Peseiro made adjustments in response to the persistence of the very disciplined Guinea Bissau players. 

With the goal gaping, Wilfred Ndidi missed a clear opportunity, while Moses Simon, the substitute, failed twice.

Even though Alex Iwobi played well, the entire team struggled to gel. 

As the game went on, Nigeria produced numerous chances, but the visitors remained steadfast. 

As a result of the defeat, Guinea Bissau now leads Group A of the AFCON qualifiers, with Nigeria in second place.

The second leg between the two teams will take place next Tuesday in front of the Guinea Bissau supporters, and you never know which version of the Super Eagles you'll see. 

Watch the full match highlights below: