Super Eagles Alert! Ex-Nigeria Midfielder Warns Against Underestimating Guinea-Bissau

Former Nigerian midfielder Sam Elijah has urged the Super Eagles to approach Tuesday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea-Bissau with maximum concentration, warning the team against underestimating their opponents.

Nigeria began their qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday. However, Elijah believes the performance exposed areas that need improvement ahead of the next fixture.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the former midfielder called on head coach Eric Chelle to review the team’s performance and make the necessary adjustments while ensuring that Nigeria approach the Guinea-Bissau encounter with the seriousness it deserves.

Elijah acknowledged that securing three points against Madagascar was the most important outcome, despite his concerns about the overall performance. He described the match as an opportunity for the technical crew to identify weaknesses and return to the drawing board before the next qualifier.

He also urged Chelle to move beyond excessive experimentation and settle on the players he believes can produce the desired result for the national team.

Elijah stressed that Nigeria cannot afford to approach the Guinea-Bissau fixture casually, insisting that the Super Eagles must respect every opponent in African football.

According to him, the days when certain African teams could easily be regarded as minnows are gone, making preparation, discipline and tactical execution increasingly important.

The former midfielder called for a high level of technical and tactical preparation ahead of the encounter, while urging the players to remain committed, disciplined and determined throughout the match.

He described the Guinea-Bissau clash as a must-win fixture for Nigeria and emphasized the need for the Super Eagles to approach the game with full concentration and diligence.

Elijah also praised George Ilenikhena for making an immediate impact on his Super Eagles debut against Madagascar. The young forward scored during the encounter, earning commendation from the former midfielder.

Elijah said scoring on an international debut was significant and expressed confidence that Ilenikhena could continue to improve with more opportunities. He encouraged the youngster to build on his performance and produce an even stronger display in the next match, adding that his future with the national team looks promising.