BISSAU/ACCRA: Two of West Africa’s biggest football names went home empty-handed on Tuesday night. The Nigeria and Ghana AFCON 2027 qualifying defeats came within hours of each other, as Guinea-Bissau beat the Super Eagles 3-0 and The Gambia beat the Black Stars 4-2 in Accra.
Guinea-Bissau Outplay a Depleted Nigeria
In Bissau, Nigeria never found their footing. Franculino Dju curled a shot into the far corner after 15 minutes, and the hosts held that lead to the break. Coach Eric Chelle brought on Moses Usor and Moses Simon at half-time, but Mama Balde doubled the lead in the 66th minute. Goalkeeper Djoco Embadje denied George Ilenikhena late on. Alvaro Djalo then added a third in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
It is Chelle’s first defeat since taking the job. Nigeria were missing the injured Victor Osimhen and arrived on three points after a 2-1 comeback win over Madagascar. Guinea-Bissau, ranked 106 places below them, now have six points, five goals scored and none conceded. Afrik-Foot reported that it was the first time Nigeria had lost by three clear goals in an AFCON qualifier.
Ghana Throw Away a Two-Goal Lead
Ghana’s night was a collapse. Ernest Nuamah scored a penalty in the 27th minute and Felix Afena-Gyan added a second six minutes later. Muhammed Badamosi pulled one back from the spot in the 37th, and Omar Colley levelled five minutes before the break. Ebrima Colley then scored twice after the interval to finish the job.
Ghana have no points from two games after losing 2-0 in Bouake to Cote d’Ivoire last week. They sit bottom of Group C under Carlos Queiroz, with two November matches against Somalia next. Cote d’Ivoire and The Gambia lead the group on six points each. Cape Verde also lost on the night, falling 2-1 to Rwanda after surrendering a lead at home.
What It Means for the Race to AFCON 2027
The picture in Group L is tight. Tanzania are already in as co-hosts, so Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar are fighting for the one remaining place on offer. In Group C, the final round on March 30, 2027 sends Gambia against Ghana again.
There is time to recover. The qualifiers run through March 2027, and the finals are set for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027. Twenty-four teams will qualify. Fans in Nigeria called the result a national disaster on social media, but the margins are shrinking. Both coaches now face the same problem: two games played and a lot of ground to make up before the next window.
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