Nigeria head coach Éric Chelle has apologised to Nigerian supporters following the team’s disappointing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in Tuesday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Bissau.

Chelle admitted that Guinea-Bissau were the better side on the night, while also pointing to the poor condition of the playing surface at the Estádio 24 de Setembro.

“I apologize to the fans. Guinea-Bissau were the better side. The pitch is also bad, but we accept responsibilities,” Chelle said after the match.

The defeat represents a major setback for Nigeria in Group L, coming just four days after the Super Eagles opened their qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Uyo.

Nigeria struggled to reproduce the attacking threat that earned them victory in their opening fixture, with Guinea-Bissau taking control and punishing the visitors during a difficult evening for Chelle’s team.

The Djurtus entered the encounter with confidence after their 2-0 away victory over Tanzania in their opening qualifier and maintained their perfect start with another convincing result.  

Guinea-Bissau’s victory takes them to six points from two matches, while Nigeria remain on three points after two games. Tanzania and Madagascar are also in Group L, with the group situation particularly important because Tanzania, as co-hosts of the 2027 AFCON, already have an automatic place at the tournament.  

Chelle had acknowledged before the match that the condition of the pitch could present a challenge, although he had insisted that Nigeria would have to adapt to the circumstances rather than use the surface as an excuse. The Super Eagles trained at the stadium on Monday ahead of the encounter.  

However, after the heavy defeat, the coach accepted that his team had been outplayed and took responsibility alongside his players and technical staff.

The result also raises questions about Nigeria’s ability to convert their superior individual quality into consistent team performances, particularly in difficult away conditions.

Chelle had previously admitted that the limited preparation time during the FIFA window had restricted the amount of tactical work the team could undertake, with Nigeria having only a small number of training sessions between the Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau fixtures.  

The Super Eagles will now have to regroup quickly as the result puts greater importance on their remaining Group L fixtures.

For Chelle, the immediate task will be to analyse what went wrong in Bissau, address the weaknesses exposed by Guinea-Bissau and restore confidence within the squad.

Nigeria’s next fixtures in the qualifying campaign will therefore carry increased significance as the three-time African champions seek to recover from one of their heaviest recent competitive defeats.