Mama Samba Balde’s twenty ninth minute aim, an excellent 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 Canines 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 aim 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 aim of the match.

Coach José Peseiro threw on Paul Onuachu and Moses Simon for Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman initially of the second half, however at the same time as Nigeria created extra possibilities, conversion remained an issue.

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