2027 PAMOJA Race: Super Eagles Face Stern Bissau Test as Ikpeme Demands Total Concentration

Posted : 28 September 2026

The Super Eagles will face a stern test of their PAMOJA 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying credentials when they confront Guinea Bissau’s Wild Dogs on Tuesday in Bissau.

The Group L encounter at the 24 September Stadium pits two sides that opened their qualifying campaigns with victories, setting the stage for an early battle for control of the group.

Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, has urged the Nigerian players to remain focused throughout the contest, warning against underestimating a Guinea Bissau side that has proved capable of causing problems for the Super Eagles.

Nigeria arrived in Bissau on Sunday evening aboard a chartered ValueJet aircraft, which touched down at the Aeroporto Internacional Osvaldo Vieira at 7.07pm local time, 8.07pm Nigerian time.

The delegation was received by the Consul of the Embassy of Nigeria in Bissau, Mr Ifeanyi Obuneme Chukwuenyem, officials of the Guinea Bissau Football Federation and members of the Nigerian community led by the President of the Nigerian Community Football Association, Mr Agwu Ojukwu.

Ikpeme reminded the players of Nigeria’s previous success in Bissau while stressing the importance of maintaining concentration for the duration of the encounter.

“We were here for a similar AFCON qualifying match three years ago, and we won by a lone goal. Victory is crucial on Tuesday, and I believe you will give your all for the three points as you did three years ago, and as you did on Friday against Madagascar in Uyo,” he said.

“Our focus and concentration must be one hundred percent for the entire 90 minutes, because Guinea Bissau is a very strong team in every way you look at it. We played them at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon and we needed all our strength and diligence to win. The team is not one that we can take for granted.”

Nigeria’s recent meetings with Guinea Bissau underline the competitive nature of the fixture.

The Super Eagles have won three of their four official senior meetings with the Wild Dogs, including a 2-0 victory at the 2021 AFCON in Garoua on January 19, 2022, when Sadiq Umar and William Troost-Ekong scored second-half goals.

Guinea Bissau, however, secured a 1-0 victory over Nigeria in an AFCON qualifier at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on March 24, 2023.

Nigeria responded several days later in Bissau, winning 1-0 through Moses Simon’s penalty, before edging the Wild Dogs by the same scoreline at the 2023 AFCON finals in Côte d’Ivoire.

With both teams starting the PAMOJA 2027 qualifying campaign with maximum points, Tuesday’s encounter carries added significance as Nigeria seek to establish an early advantage in Group L.

The Confederation of African Football has appointed an Ethiopian quartet to officiate the match, with Tewodros Mitiku as referee.

He will be assisted by Fasika Biru Fasika, Tigle Belachew and Manuhe Woldetsadik, who will serve as first assistant, second assistant and fourth official respectively.

Senegal’s Yaya Balde has been appointed match commissioner, while former FIFA referee Papa Bakary Gassama of The Gambia will serve as referee assessor.

Kick-off is scheduled for 4pm in Guinea Bissau, 5pm Nigerian time.

2027 PAMOJA Race: Super Eagles Face Stern Bissau Test as Ikpeme Demands Total Concentration

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