Former Super Eagles striker Peter Ijeh has described Nigeria’s 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau as a revealing examination of Eric Chelle’s team, arguing that the Wild Dogs exposed weaknesses that Madagascar were unable to exploit in the opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The Super Eagles travelled to Bissau on the back of a 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar, but were comprehensively beaten by a Guinea-Bissau side that took control of the contest and punished Nigeria’s defensive shortcomings.
For Ijeh, who had called for a more offensive approach before the encounter, the result provided Chelle and his technical crew with a clearer picture of where the team currently stands.
“3-0 against the Super Eagles! What a superlative test drive for Coach Chelle and the Super Eagles,” Ijeh said in his post-match assessment.
The Sweden-based former international believes Guinea-Bissau succeeded where Madagascar failed by putting Nigeria’s defensive structure under sustained pressure.
“Guinea-Bissau exposed what Madagascar couldn’t by testing the true strength of the Super Eagles defence,” he said. “They dominated the midfield and were extraordinary with their finishing.”
Ijeh identified Nigeria’s passive approach as one of the fundamental problems, arguing that allowing opponents too much time and control inevitably affects a team’s tactical structure.
“That’s the price you pay when some core principles of play are missing in a team,” the former Malmö FF striker said.
“Being passive can’t win a game. Passivity gives room for the opponent to dictate the game and the pace, and of course neutralises the game structure and strategy.”
His comments are particularly striking because before the match, Ijeh had urged Chelle to “take the game” to Guinea-Bissau and play offensively from the opening whistle, believing that aggression could unsettle the Wild Dogs’ defensive organisation.
Instead, the former striker believes Nigeria surrendered the initiative and were punished for it.
Attention must now turn quickly to the next assignment, with Ijeh describing Nigeria’s coming encounter with Tanzania as non-negotiable.
“A must-win against Tanzania,” he concluded.
For Ijeh, the Bissau defeat should therefore be treated as more than three points lost: Guinea-Bissau provided Chelle with a brutal test of his Super Eagles — and exposed exactly where the rebuilding job must continue.
