Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has urged his players to maintain a strong mentality when Nigeria face Guinea-Bissau in their second 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture on Tuesday.
The encounter at the Estádio 24 de Setembro in Bissau presents Nigeria with their first away test of the qualifying campaign, with both sides looking to build on victories recorded in their opening matches.
Nigeria began their Group L campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar in Uyo. George Ilenikhena opened his senior international account in the game before Moses Usor marked his Super Eagles debut by scoring the winning goal.
Guinea-Bissau, meanwhile, produced one of the more impressive results of the opening round by defeating Tanzania 2-0 away from home. Franculino Djú and Mama Baldé were responsible for the goals.
Chelle believes that result will give the Djurtus additional confidence, particularly with the advantage of playing in front of their home supporters.
The Nigerian coach said he has monitored Guinea-Bissau’s development over the years and is aware of the challenge they present.
“We respect them because they are a strong team; I have followed their progress over the years. They also won away in Tanzania on Friday and will be confident playing on home ground tomorrow,” Chelle said during Monday’s pre-match press conference.
While Nigeria’s objective remains securing all three points, Chelle stressed that the Super Eagles will have to perform at a high level to achieve it.
“Our objective is to take the three points, and to do that, we must approach the game with a strong mentality. We have to be at our best to earn victory,” he added.
The two teams currently have three points each, meaning Tuesday’s result could provide an early advantage in Group L.
Pitch Conditions Add to Nigeria’s Challenge
Aside from Guinea-Bissau’s form, Nigeria will also have to adapt to the condition of the playing surface at the Estádio 24 de Setembro.
Chelle acknowledged the state of the pitch but maintained that his players must avoid allowing the conditions to affect their concentration.
The Super Eagles completed their final training session at the stadium on Monday evening. All 24 invited players participated in the 65-minute workout, which took place under light rain as the team completed preparations for the encounter.
Nigeria will now look to translate its strong start into another positive result when the Super Eagles take on the Djurtus.
Kick-off is scheduled for 5pm Nigerian time on Tuesday, September 29.
