'We were lucky against Super Eagles' — Guinea Bissau coach

Jose Peseiro (L) and Baciro Cande(R)

AFCON 2023 'We were lucky against Super Eagles' — Guinea Bissau coach

Ayoola Kelechi 23:30 - 24.03.2023

Guinea Bissau's Baciro Cande insists his side were only lucky to beat the Super Eagles

Guinea Bissau national team coach Baciro Cande has said his side were lucky to come away with a victory over the Super Eagles of Nigeria after a crucial 1-0 win in the AFCON 2023 qualifier. 

Guinea Bissau embarrass Super Eagles in Abuja

Guinea Bissau battled to a famous win over Nigeria, a team sitting 83 places above them in the FIFA rankings and leapfrogged their hosts to top their AFCON qualifying group with seven points from three games, yet coach Cande believes his team needed the rub of the green to win. 

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The Djurtus ended Nigeria’s 19-game unbeaten run in AFCON qualifiers, doing so in the Super Eagles’ backyard thanks to a goal on the cusp of the half-hour mark by Troyes forward Mama Samba Balde. 

Guinea Bissau coach credits luck for victory over Nigeria 

Despite the great achievement, Cande was keen to downplay the victory after the game, praising the Super Eagles’ display and putting his side’s victory down to luck. 

Speaking through interpretation by Media officer Edgar Carlos Pires, Cande said, “It is not easy, Nigeria have the ball and a lot of chance[s] to score, but Guinea Bissau have the luck today, and we win 1-0.”

There have been a few mentions of luck since the Guinea Bissau victory over Nigeria, and Cande joins Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro and midfielder Alex Iwobi in stating the role of luck on the fixture. 

With the sides set to meet again in three days, the theory of will be tested again, and we will find out how important a role luck has played in the fixture compared to preparation and tactics. 

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