Former Nigerian international Segun Odegbami has expressed deep concern over the Super Eagles’ 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau, saying the performance has raised serious questions about the state of Nigerian football.
Nigeria suffered the heavy defeat in Bissau on September 29 in their second Group L match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Franculino Djú opened the scoring in the 15th minute before Mama Baldé doubled Guinea-Bissau’s advantage in the second half. Álvaro Djaló completed the victory in stoppage time.
Reacting to the result in a commentary published on October 3, Odegbami described the performance as difficult to explain, questioning the lack of intensity and character displayed by the Super Eagles during the match.
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The former Nigeria captain said the defeat was more than an isolated poor result and argued that it exposed deeper concerns surrounding the country’s football structure and the identity of the national team.
Odegbami also referred to reactions from former football figures, including John Mastoroudes, who expressed shock at Nigeria’s defeat.
The loss was Nigeria’s first in the qualifying campaign after the Super Eagles had opened with a 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar in Uyo. Guinea-Bissau, meanwhile, moved to six points from their opening two matches after previously defeating Tanzania 2-0.
The result has left Nigeria with three points from two matches and increased the pressure on Eric Chelle’s side to recover in the remaining fixtures of the qualification campaign.
For Odegbami, however, the bigger issue goes beyond the result itself, with the former international calling for a closer examination of what has changed in Nigerian football and why the national team struggled to impose itself against Guinea-Bissau.
