It is match day 3 of the 2023 African Cup Of Nations qualifiers.
The biennial African international association football tournament which will be held in Ivory Coast between January and February 2024 shall have twenty-four teams in attendance including Ivory Coast who have qualified automatically as hosts.
Six venues in five host cities will welcome the twenty-four top African teams (Ivory Coast inclusive) for the prestigious CAF-organised men's AFCON.
The ongoing qualifiers are a requisite for any team to reach the biennial tournament.
In this article, CitySports focuses on the qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Djuturs of Guinea Bissau.
To analyze the chances of both teams as they prepare to face off in the group A match scheduled for Friday 24th of March, at Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja before a return leg at the Estádio 24 de Setembro on March 27, 2023.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria currently sit top of Group A with six points and the Djuturs occupied the second position on the log with four points.
Head-To-Head
Nigeria and Guinea Bissau have played six games at the senior national team level three times, during the 2019 African Cup Of Nations in Egypt, with the Super Eagles triumphing by 2-0.
Neither of these two teams has won their last six matches, while Guinea Bissau have drawn three and also lost three matches, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have lost five matches and drew just one.
The above stat shows how in-form these two teams are, and with no regard to individual players' current form.
Nigeria have participated in six of the last eight editions of the FIFA World cup, missing only the 2006 and 2022 editions. They have reached the round of 16 on three occasions. Their first World Cup appearance was the 1994 edition
The Guinea Bissau team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cups but qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations three times, making their debut in 2017.
The Super Eagles are also three times AFCON champions, while Guinea Bissau are still looking forward to a first AFCON title.
What To Expect
Being the first and the second on the log, we are in for an exciting match, and whilst Guinea Bissau will fancy the chance to Overtake Nigeria on the log, the Super Eagles with their tons of foreign professionals and in-form strikers, like Osimhen and Lookman (both players who top Serie A goal chart) won't make things easier for the Djuturs.
Though on paper and with Eagles striking prowess at the moment, bookmakers would give it to the Nigerians, however, the Djuturs have kept three clean sheets in their last six games, playing a goalless draw with South Sudan on two occasions, and another draw against Guinea.
They have also incurred six goals from the last six games and that's only 50% of what their Friday's opponents, the Super Eagles, have incurred in their last six games.
Nigeria have lost five matches of the six recently played, drawn one, and will be seeking to change that narrative in this match Against Guinea Bissau on Friday at Estádio 24 de Setembro.
All the twenty-three invited players have arrived at Super Eagles camp, these are:
Goalkeeping lAkpoguma, Aribo, Lookman, Iwobi, Ajayi, Aniagboso, Uzoho, Ndidi, Bameyi, Omeruo, Onyeka, Simon, Onuachu, Osayi, Musa, Moffi, Sochima, Bassey, Onyemaechi, Chukwueze, Iheanacho, Osimhen, Zaidu.
Who do you think will win this match?
Will the Djuturs of Guinea Bissau overtake the Eagles on the log or will Nigeria consolidate on their current form to secure the maximum points which push them closer to a qualification?
The match is 5pm Nigerian time and we can't wait to see the exciting match with you.
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