Wilfred Ndidi, captain of the Nigeria Super Eagles, stands on the pitch with his right hand over his heart during the national anthem. He wears the white and green home jersey with the Nigeria Football Federation crest and a red captain’s armband. Rain falls around him as a blurred stadium crowd fills the background


Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi had pledged before the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign that Nigeria would avoid the slow starts and struggles that marked their failed 2026 World Cup bid. 

Speaking ahead of the opening Group L match against Madagascar, Ndidi stressed the squad’s focus and determination to build momentum from the first game, saying the team knew the lessons from past campaigns and would not allow a poor beginning to define their efforts again.

That promise remained unfulfilled after Nigeria’s 3-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday at the Estádio 24 de Setembro in Bissau. Ndidi started and wore the armband in the match, according to team reports, as the Super Eagles fell behind early to Franculino Djú’s 15th-minute goal and never recovered. 

Mama Baldé and Álvaro Djaló added further strikes, leaving Nigeria with three points from two games while Guinea-Bissau moved to six.

The result echoed the qualification difficulties Ndidi had vowed to prevent. Head coach Eric Chelle later described his side as second-best on the night, citing the hosts’ greater aggression and intensity. 

Nigeria next faces Tanzania in November as the group race tightens, with only one qualifying place available alongside co-hos Tanzania.