Akor Adams Rages: Super Eagles Star Blasts CAF & Guinea-Bissau After Crushing 3-0 Defeat!
The Nigerian Super Eagles face a critical juncture in their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign after a shocking 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau. Forward Akor Adams acknowledges team responsibility despite poor pitch conditions, while legend Segun Odegbami criticizes the team's lack of fighting spirit and deviation from traditional Nigerian football identity. The team now looks to regroup and perform strongly in their upcoming friendly against Russia to regain confidence.
The Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, suffered a shocking 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, a result that has sent ripples of concern through the nation's footballing circles. The match, played on Tuesday, saw goals from Franculino Dju, Mama Baldé, and Álvaro Djaló for the home side, marking Nigeria's heaviest-ever loss in AFCON qualifying and their biggest competitive defeat to an African country since 1990. This devastating loss follows their earlier 2-1 comeback victory against Madagascar, leaving the Super Eagles three points behind Guinea-Bissau in Group L with four games remaining.
Super Eagles forward Akor Adams, who featured in both qualifying games, acknowledged the team's shortcomings. Despite thorough preparation for a crucial qualification match, Adams admitted that the team failed to perform at their best. “I think there are many factors that happened in the game, but it’s not a game we should lose, and we have to take responsibility for that. We have taken responsibility for it,” the Venezia striker stated. He emphasized that the team was “on the bad side on that day as a group and as a team” and that they are now focused on correcting their mistakes, understanding their potential when playing at their peak.
The poor condition of the pitch at the Estádio 24 de Setembro in Bissau also drew significant attention. While coach Eric Chelle reportedly cited it as a contributing factor to Nigeria's loss, Akor Adams, though acknowledging the pitch was subpar, firmly refused to use it as an excuse. “A good pitch should be a bare minimum for African football. We all know this. I’m not making any excuses, and I would not make excuses,” Adams asserted, highlighting the professionalism expected of players to overcome various circumstances, including weather and refereeing. He added that given the stature of African football, a better playing surface should be standard. This situation has also cast a spotlight on CAF's accreditation process for pitches across the continent, especially considering that some pitches in Nigeria, which CAF has rejected, are reportedly superior to the one in Bissau.
Nigeria football legend Segun Odegbami delivered a scathing assessment of the defeat, describing himself as