Former Nigeria international Duke Udi has placed responsibility for the Super Eagles’ humiliating 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau firmly on the players, insisting head coach Eric Chelle should not carry the blame for a performance in which his team failed to deliver the required intensity.
Nigeria’s perfect start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign came to an abrupt halt in Bissau, where the Wild Dogs punished a subdued Super Eagles display to collect their second successive victory in Group L.
For Udi, the explanation goes beyond formations or coaching decisions.
“You cannot blame the coach for this result,” the former midfielder said. “The players did not bring their best to the game.”
Udi believes the defeat should reinforce a lesson Nigeria have repeatedly been forced to learn — reputation and individual quality are no longer enough to guarantee results in African football.
He pointed to results elsewhere on the continent, including Ghana’s shock 4-2 home defeat to The Gambia, as evidence of the increasingly competitive nature of international football in Africa.
Senegal also encountered a difficult examination against Ethiopia, further strengthening Udi’s argument that established football nations can no longer expect straightforward victories against supposedly smaller opposition.
“You cannot take any team for granted in Africa anymore,” Udi stressed.
His assessment comes amid a wider debate over responsibility for Nigeria’s performance in Bissau.
Chelle apologised to supporters after the defeat and admitted Guinea-Bissau were the better side. Although he acknowledged the difficult playing surface, the Franco-Malian accepted responsibility rather than presenting the pitch as the primary explanation for the result.
Former internationals have offered differing assessments. Juwon Oshaniwa described the display as Nigeria’s worst since Chelle took charge, while Peter Ijeh argued that Guinea-Bissau exposed weaknesses Madagascar had failed to punish in the opening qualifier.
Udi, however, believes greater responsibility must fall on those who crossed the white line.
The Super Eagles must now respond when their qualification campaign resumes, with the defeat increasing the importance of their next fixture against Tanzania.
For Udi, the lesson from Bissau is straightforward: Chelle can prepare the tactics and select the team, but Nigeria’s players must match their opponents’ hunger once the whistle blows.
