2023 AFCON: Guinea-Bissau v Nigeria preview

Sunday Jan 21, 2024. 16:04

Day 10 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations opens with the Group A clash between Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.

Date: Monday, 22 January 2024

Kick-off: 19h00 CAT

Head-to-head: The two teams met for the first time during the group stages at the 2021 edition of the continental showpiece as the Super Eagles triumphed 2-0. They were drawn together again in Group A of qualifying for AFCON 2023 and the Djurtus emerged 1-0 victors in Abuja on 24 March 2023 before Jose Peseiro’s side won by the same scoreline in Bissau three days later.

Guinea-Bissau’s last three results: Baciro Cande’s side came into the tournament on the back of a disappointing 6-2 hammering at the hands of Mali on January 6 and lost their opening two group matches against hosts Ivory Coast (2-0) and Equatorial Guinea (4-2) to book an early ticket back home.

Nigeria’s last three results: Their West African rivals warmed up for the spectacle with a 2-0 defeat to Guinea and drew 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea first up in Group A before edging the Elephants 1-0 on January 18.

Team news: Cande has no new injuries to contend with and will have a full-strength squad to choose from. Opposite number Peseiro will hand a late fitness test to Alhassan Yusuf, who missed the game against Ivory Coast after being forced off with cramp in the encounter with the National Thunder.

Key player – Guinea-Bissau: Ze Turbo will be hoping to earn his first start under Cande after coming off the bench in the first two group matches and scoring his first international goal against Equatorial Guinea in the 93rd minute in what was just his fourth appearance for the Djurtus.

Key player – Nigeria: Victor Osimhen opened his AFCON account with the equaliser against the National Thunder just two minutes after Iban Salvador had given them the lead on 36 minutes. The 25-year-old striker then won the penalty that was converted by William Troost-Ekong in the 55th minute to secure victory against Ivory Coast.