AFCON 2023 Qualifiers: Guinea Bissau’s president Embalo gushes over ‘great’ victory over Nigeria

The Wild Dogs caged the Super Eagles on Friday evening to the delight of their leader on social media

Guinea Bissau president Umaro Sissoco Embalo is in awe of the Djurtus following their historic victory over Nigeria in Friday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Heading into the fixture staged at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, the Baciro Cande’s men were rated outsiders due to the Super Eagles’ pedigree in football.

Nevertheless, they ran out with a 1-0 triumph with Mama Balde’s 29th minute beauty sailing past goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.

Fuelled by the result against the three-time African kings – one of Guinea Bissau’s most important victories in football history –  the country’s leader went on social media to laud the Wild Dogs.

Mes vives félicitations à nos DJURTUS nationaux! Beaucoup de fierté et de joie pour cette belle victoire contre l’équipe nationale du Nigéria!
Très bonne continuation pour ces éliminatoires de la CAN2023! pic.twitter.com/TyAOnpKWdS

— Umaro Sissoco Embaló (@USEmbalo) March 24, 2023

“My hearty congratulations to our national Djurtus! A lot of pride and joy for this great victory against the Nigerian national team! A very good continuation of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers,” President Embalo tweeted.

After the early setback, Jose Peseiro’s men stepped up their performance but they were unable to get launch a comeback with unpardonable misses their major undoing.

Aside from moving to the summit of Group A having accrued seven points from four matches, the West Africans have also avenged their 2-0 loss to Nigeria during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations staged in Cameroon.

Guinea Bissau would be aiming to complete a double over Peseiro’s Eagles when both teams meet on Monday at the Estadio Nacional 24 de Setembro.

Should that happen, Cande’s side will secure a place at the biennial African football showpiece in Cote d’Ivoire with two matches to spare.

On the other hand, Ahmed Musa and his colleagues would be aiming to restore some pride with a result in Bissau.

Nigeria failed expedition at AFCON 2021 saw them crash out in the Round of 16 after losing 1-0 to Tunisia at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua.