Head coach of the Guinea-Bissau national team, Emiliano Té has stated that the understanding of tactical approaches applicable against various opponents was instrumental in their victory over Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on Tuesday.
He also made it clear that the Djurtus have not qualified for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations yet as there more matches to be played.
The Djurtus delivered an authoritative display against the Super Eagles at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro in Bissau on Tuesday, cementing their second consecutive victory in Group L.
Franculino Djú opened the scoring before Mama Baldé extended the lead, with Álvaro Djaló sealing the victory during stoppage time.
The outcome positioned Guinea-Bissau favorably within the qualifying group, having previously defeated Tanzania 2-0 in their inaugural match.
Nigeria had commenced their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar before experiencing their first qualifying defeat at the hands of Té’s squad.
Notwithstanding the decisive nature of the victory, Té emphasized that substantial effort remains before Guinea-Bissau can confirm qualification for the continental championship.
During his post-match press conference, the Guinea-Bissau coach underscored that Tuesday’s result should be regarded as a further advancement in an extended campaign rather than confirmation that qualification has been achieved.
On why they were able to beat the African giants, he said, “Every game has its own story. You need to play tactical football, create better scoring opportunities, and always believe that you can do more and better, regardless of the opponent.”
He added, “It represents a journey to reach the African Cup of Nations. The victory against Nigeria illustrates that the national team is performing effectively and shall continue to advance in forthcoming matches.”
Guinea-Bissau’s triumph holds particular importance given that Tanzania, one of the co-hosts of the 2027 tournament, has already secured qualification.
AFCON qualifiers: Why we beat Nigeria – Guinea-Bissau coach, Emiliano Té