Wild Canine chunk Eagles in Abuja, barks to high of qualification desk

Mama Samba Balde’s twenty ninth minute purpose, a superb strike straight from the coaching floor, condemned the Tremendous Eagles to a 0-1 defeat on the Moshood Abiola Nationwide Stadium, Abuja on Friday and took Guinea Bissau’s Wild Canine high of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification desk.

Early incursions by Nigeria didn’t yield dividends. Defender Brilliant Osayi-Samuel’s grounder was diverted away from purpose within the second minute, Samuel Chukwueze’s seventh minute shot was charged down by an alert rearguard and Victor Osimhen struck the physique of goalkeeper Jonas Mendes with 16 minutes gone.

The guests had threatened within the quarter-hour when it took a fast intervention by Wilfred Ndidi to chop off Alfa Semedo Esteves within the field. The Tremendous Eagles’ defence didn’t heed that warning, and 14 minutes later, when Fali Cande heaved a protracted thrust ahead that escaped the eye of each Calving Bassey and Kevin Akpoguma, Balde swiftly caught on, managed the ball expertly and flicked it previous onrushing Francis Uzoho for the one purpose of the match.

Coach José Peseiro threw on Paul Onuachu and Moses Simon for Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman at first of the second half, however whilst Nigeria created extra probabilities, conversion remained an issue.

Within the 56th minute, Simon drew gasps from the group as he missed from six yards, and Mendes saved brilliantly from Osimhen when the marksman was by on purpose. Chukwueze blasted a few alternatives over the sticks and Paul Onuachu’s header flew away from purpose with 12 minutes left.

Defeat meant the Eagles slipped to second place whereas the Djurtus climbed high, with seven factors to the Eagles’ six, forward of the 2 groups’ confrontation in Bissau on Monday night