The senior national team of Nigeria will be back in action today against their counterparts from Guinea Bissau in the race to be at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote D’Ivoire, OGN reports.

Nigeria will be looking for a positive result after losing the first tie 0-1 in Abuja on Friday. The defeat saw them relinquish the top spot in the group to today’s host, who are keen on finishing the job at their home ground.

Away in Bissau, the game will kick off by 5pm Nigerian time and will be aired on pay television platform DSTV.  For those who want to watch it online the game will be live on AfroSportTV and also on their Facebook page ( facebook.com/AfroSportNow). See link below.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has come under intense pressure following the results in the last three games which has ended in losses and today’s game give him the perfect chance to buy himself some time.

Already Nigerians have been calling for his sack with some even saying he should be axed when his contract winds up in June even if he makes it to the Africa Cup of Nations.

The senior national team of Nigeria will later today take on Guinea Bissau in the reverse tie of the 0-1 loss they suffered in Abuja on Friday in the AFCON 2023 qualifiers, OGN reports.

Nigeria will be hoping to get back to winning ways in the game that is scheduled for 5pm Nigerian team and ahead of the game , head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro is pondering five changes to the team that started on Friday.

We exclusively gathered that the Portuguese has five players in mind to be taken out of the team and it starts with the duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman. Both players were taken off in the dressing room before the start of the second half.

Another player who is also facing the chop is Wilfred Ndidi, who was subbed off for Frank Onyeka, the Brentford man looks favorite to start this game. Today might also see the coach hand a debut to Boavista defender Bruno Onyemaechi in place of Zaidu Sanusi at left back.

In defence, there is also the likelihood of Semi Ajayi starting ahead of Kevin Akpoguma who suffered a head injury on Friday. He is set to be given a rest for this game with Ajayi prime to pair Calvin Bassey in the heart of the defence of Nigeria.

The cries for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to sack Jose Peseiro as coach of the senior national team of Nigeria will last a little longer according to a chieftain of the football house in the wake of the 0-1 loss to Guinea Bissau in Abuja, OGN can exclusively reveal.

Peseiro’s contract as coach of the senior national team of Nigeria is supposed to expire in June according to what is available to the public but per what we gathered from a chieftain of the NFF, the contract entered with him by the former board led by Amaju Pinnick has a caveat that makes it possible to sack the Portuguese only if he fails to win the next Africa Cup of Nations.

With the decision of CAF to postpone the tournament to next year, his contract has automatically extended till after the AFCON in January next year. He explained that any attempt to fire the coach will see them pay a severance package similar to what erstwhile coach Gernot Rohr enjoyed for one year.

He said the football house will try to look for loopholes if results fails to improve but for now sacking the coach isn’t an option as it will amount to a breach of contract since the team is on course to qualify for the AFCON.

Nigeria will take on Guinea Bissau in the reverse tie or Friday’s 0-1 loss and a win will see them go back to top of the group. Sierra Leone who are one point behind after a 2-0 win away at Sao Tome and Principe will hope for a win for the Super Eagles to go ahead of Guinea Bissau if they beat Sao Tome and Principe as expected.

Mohammed Mowiz

The senior national team of Nigeria suffered a shocking 0-1 defeat to Guinea Bissau at the Moshood Abiola stadium in the race to be at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

With Nigeria looking more likely to score with Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze and Kelechi Iheanacho making darting runs, it was the visitors who surprisingly took the lead in the 29 minutes. Totally against the run of play.

A route one ball behind the defence of Nigeria caught the centre backs flat leaving Samba Balde to run at the ball unchallenged. His first touch set him through with Francis Uzoho at his mercy and he colly slot home to give his side the lead.

Nigeria immediately mounted a fight back but tried as they could, they failed to trouble Jonas Mendez in the goal of Guinea Bissau and ended the half losing 0-1 leaving the stadium in a tense situation. They were booed off the pitch.

Guinea Bissau showed remarkable organization in defence to see out the win and in the process go top of the group and also inflicted a fifth straight defeat on the Super Eagles of Nigeria. The first time in history it is happening.

The lineup of the senior national team of Nigeria for today’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers has been made public by head coach Jose Peseiro, OGN can exclusively reveal.

Per leaks from the television crew for the game that will start by 5pm Nigerian time. Peseiro stuck with his favorite 4-4-2 formation with Francis Uzoho in goal.

Bright Osayi-Samuel who was the standout player in the friendly game against Portugal starts as the right back win Zaidu Sanusi holding off Bruno Onyemaechi push to retain his spot at left back. The duo of Calvin Bassey and Kevin Akpoguma will play as the centre back pairing. Wilfred Ndidi wears the captain armband and will play alongside Alex Iwobi in the middle.

On the flanks, he went for the duo of Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze as the right and left sided forwards respectively. Victor Osimhen leads the line with Kelechi Iheanacho.

Starting XI: Uzoho, Osayi-Samuel, Sanusi, Akpoguma, Bassey, Iwobi, Ndidi, Chukwueze, Iheanacho, Lookman, Osimhen.

The lineup of the senior national team of Nigeria for today’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers has been made public by head coach Jose Peseiro, OGN can exclusively reveal.

Per leaks from the television crew for the game that will start by 5pmNigerian time. Peseiro stuck with his favorite 4-4-2 formation with Francis Uzoho in goal.

Bright Osayi-Samuel who was the standout player in the friendly game against Portugal starts as the right back win Zaidu Sanusi holding off Bruno Onyemaechi push to retain his spot at left back. The duo of Calvin Bassey and Kevin Akpoguma will play as the centre back pairing.

On the flanks, he went for the duo of Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze as the right and left sided forwards respectively. Victor Osimhen leads the line with Kelechi Iheanacho.

Starting XI: Uzoho, Osayi-Samuel, Sanusi, Akpoguma, Bassey, Iwobi, Ndidi, Chukwueze, Iheanacho, Lookman, Osimhen.

The senior national team of Nigeria will later today at the Moshood Abiola stadium take on Guinea Bissau in the race to be at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations by 5pm Nigerian time.

Head coach of the team Jose Peseiro has already given a hint on how his team will possibly line up in the game, which is the first of two games they will play against the same country during this qualifiers.

Per yesterday’s training, Francis Uzoho will keep his place in goal with a back four of players he has played with at some point in front of him. It consist of Bright Osayi-Samuel , Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi and Zaidu Sanusi. Although the coach also tried out the combination of Kevin Akpoguma and Bassey during yesterday’s session.

In midfield, it a straight forward choice with the trio of Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Joe Aribo the preferred trio but Kelechi Iheanacho also looked sharp and could shake off Aribo from the starting lineup.

In attack, Moses Simon will miss out with the duo of Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman mounting the left and right flank respectively . While in the coach’s favoured two man attack, the duo of Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen will take the spot. However Iheanacho could start alongside Osimhen in attack.

Nice of France hit man Terem Moffi will no doubt play some part in the game but most likely as a substitute, while Paul Onuachu might miss out on getting involved today.

Starting XI: Uzoho, Osayi-Samuel, Sanusi, Akpoguma, Bassey, Iwobi, Ndidi, Chukwueze, Iheanacho, Lookman, Osimhen.

The captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Ahmed Musa has fired back at people questioning his invitation to the senior national team of Nigeria for the AFCON qualifiers games against Guinea Bissau.

Musa hasn’t had the best of time at club level for a while now even at his present team Sivasspor, he has been a bit part player with just three minutes of action in his last four games before the international break.

Despite his lack of game time at club level, head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro still included him in his 23 man list for the back to back games against Guinea Bissau. It led to harsh criticism considering that he was picked at the expense of other players who have been active at their clubs.

Musa was asked about his future at the team and if he thinks he deserves a spot in the team base on his current form. He was also asked why he still believe he can contribute to the team instead of retiring from the team after 107 appearances.

“In as much as I am being invited by the coach and my body can carry me, I will continue to play for Nigeria”, he said at the pre match conference.

“The coach who invited knows better and as a patriotic Nigerian, I can’t decline my national team invitation after so much sacrifice.

“I don’t listen to those who are clamouring for my retirement. I remain focused on my career. Whoever is invited, people must talk, so, why should I listen to their comments”, he fired back at his critics.

Mohammed Mowiz