Former Nigeria international Garba Lawal has urged the Super Eagles to quickly put their victory over Madagascar behind them and concentrate fully on Tuesday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria opened their Group L campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar in Uyo, recovering after conceding early to secure three valuable points through goals from debutants George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor.
Lawal, popularly known as Chindo, acknowledged that the Super Eagles were not at their best but believes qualification football is ultimately about collecting points.
“It wasn’t the best performance, but the most important thing is that we won the game,” Lawal said.
For the former Ajax and Roda JC midfielder, seeing Nigerians celebrating again following the disappointment of missing the 2026 World Cup was another important consequence of the victory.
“The win has put smiles back on the faces of Nigerians, and that is the best part,” he added.
But Lawal does not want Friday’s result to create a false sense of security.
Guinea-Bissau present an immediate threat after beginning their own qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Tanzania, meaning both the Wild Dogs and Nigeria enter Tuesday’s encounter with three points.
There is also recent history to serve as a warning. Guinea-Bissau stunned Nigeria 1-0 in Abuja in March 2023, although the Super Eagles responded three days later by winning the return fixture 1-0 in Bissau.
Lawal therefore wants Eric Chelle’s players to approach Tuesday’s match collectively rather than relying on individual quality.
“They have to avoid complacency and play as a unit,” he warned.
With both countries making winning starts, the encounter in Bissau already carries significant importance in the qualification race.
For Lawal, Nigeria’s formula should be straightforward: enjoy the Madagascar victory, forget it quickly and recognise that the next three points now matter more than the last three.
