AFCON Qualifiers: Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

The Djurtus host The Super Eagles at Estádio 24 de Setembro in this exciting weekend clash.

Football is a sport that is loved by millions of people all around the World. Whether you're a fan of the sport or not, there's no denying the excitement and thrill that comes with watching two teams compete on the field. In this article, we'll be comparing the football teams of Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria.

Guinea-Bissau is a small country in West Africa with a population of just over 1.9 million people. Despite its small size, Guinea-Bissau has a passion for football that is unmatched. The country has produced some talented players over the years, but the national team has struggled to make a mark on the international stage. On the other hand, Nigeria is a football powerhouse in Africa. With a population of over 200 million people, Nigeria is one of the most populous countries in the world. Football is the most popular sport in the country, and it has produced some of the most talented players in Africa.

When it comes to head-to-head matches between Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria, Nigeria has a clear advantage. In the four matches that the two teams have played against each other, Nigeria has won three and drawn one. One of the reasons for Nigeria's dominance over Guinea-Bissau is its superior talent pool. 

In contrast, Guinea-Bissau has struggled to produce players of the same calibre. The country has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup tournament and has only qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations twice. Despite this, Guinea-Bissau has shown that it can compete with some of the best teams in Africa. Let’s take a look at this upcoming fixture.

Kick-Off

Monday, 27-03-2023, 4:00 PM (GMT)

Monday, 27-03-2023, 9:30 PM (IST)

Guinea-Bissau Form (All Competitions): W-W-D-L-D

Nigeria Form (All Competitions): W-W-L-L-L

Players to Watch Out

Nigeria: Victor Osimhen

Osimhen is a striker who has been making waves in European football. He has played for teams like Lille and Napoli and has already made a significant impact on both clubs. He is known for his pace, power, and clinical finishing, making him a dangerous player for any opposing team. So, while Osimhen may be a player to watch out for, he will need the support of his teammates to help Nigeria secure a victory against Guinea-Bissau or any other opponent they may face.

Guinea-Bissau: Piqueti

Piqueti is a winger who has played for several clubs in Portugal, including Portimonense and Gil Vicente. He had already made a significant impact on the Guinea-Bissau national team, scoring goals in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and other international fixtures. Piqueti is known for his speed, dribbling ability, and creativity on the ball. He has the ability to create chances for his teammates and can score goals himself. His performances for Guinea-Bissau had already earned him interest from several clubs in Europe, and he was expected to make a move to a bigger club in the future.

Match Facts

• Guinea national football team is relatively new compared to other African teams. They have only qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations twice, in 2017 and 2019.
• Nigeria, on the other hand, is one of the most successful football teams in Africa, with a rich history of success on the international stage. They have won the Africa Cup of Nations three times and have qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times.
• Nigeria has produced several world-class footballers, including Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, and John Obi Mikel, to name a few. 

Injury and Team News

Nigerian player Akpoguma suffered a head injury and was subbed off early and he won’t be playing in the reverse fixture most probably. 

Balde made his international debut with his winner in Abuja, and we anticipate the Ajaccio striker to lead the Djurtus assault once more. Full-back Jefferson Encada is a possibility for the host team after suffering a late injury last time out, so Nanu could replace him on the right side of the back four.

Head-to-Head stats

Matches – 2

Guinea-Bissau – 1

Nigeria – 1

Draw – 0

Predicted Lineups

Guinea-Bissau predicted starting lineup:Mendes; Nane, Mane, Sangate, Cande; Nogueira, Semedo; Piqueti, Cassama, Dalcio; Balde

Nigeria predicted starting lineup:Uzoho; Sanusi, Bassey, Ajayi, Osayi-Samuel; Aribo, Iwobi, Ndidi; Chukwueze, Lookman, Osimhen

Match Prediction

While Guinea-Bissau has shown that it can compete with some of the best teams in Africa, Nigeria remains the stronger team when it comes to head-to-head matches. Nigeria's superior talent pool and experience in international competitions give them an edge over Guinea-Bissau and they’ll look forward to redemption. Nonetheless, the passion for football in Guinea-Bissau remains as strong as ever as they shocked everyone in a reverse fixture away from home, and there is hope that the national team will continue to improve and make a mark on the international stage in the future.

Prediction: Guinea Bissau 1 - 2 Nigeria

Telecast

India – AFCON Youtube

UK- Channel 4

USA – Fubo TV, Fox Sports 1

Nigeria – SuperSport TV