Uzoho got more stick, but cardinal sin cost Nigeria against Guinea-Bissau

It was not hard to foresee the disparagement that was coming after Mama Balde put Guinea-Bissau 1-0 up just before the half-hour mark in Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash at the MKO Abiola Stadium.

Nigeria may have been heavy favourites before a ball was kicked in Abuja, but they found themselves behind on home turf to a side 83 places below them in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking.

There was an hour left to play and, ostensibly, enough time to turn the game around just as they had done in Jose Peseiro’s first competitive match in charge against Sierra Leone in June 2022.

The opening game of the qualifying series saw goals from Alex Iwobi and Victor Osimhen secure a come-from-behind success over the Leone Stars after Jonathan Morsay put the away side ahead. The Super Eagles needed a similar response to prevent Peseiro from falling to a fifth defeat in seven games in charge of the three-time African champions.

That reaction never came, despite a succession of attacks after the interlude that saw the home team shoot at goal 11 times. Nigeria’s profligate finishing meant they neither equalised nor won the game, ergo, losing 1-0 against a side ranked 118th in the world.

The opprobrium was palpable, with disgruntled supporters unable to hide their displeasure at a manager who continues to lose games and a team that struggles to coalesce into a unit.

Francis Uzoho bore much of the brunt for the concession of what turned out to be the winning goal: a seemingly tame Balde finish that went between his legs. On the one hand, you understand supporters’ frustration, whose exasperation was an upshot of the absence of confidence in the man between the sticks.

On the other hand, there is a feeling the bigger picture is missed in not recognising the fundamental flaw in Nigeria’s set-up in the build-up to Uzoho’s perceived incrimination.

A closer look at events just before the half-hour shows how Osimhen is the only Super Eagle nearby after Jonas Mendes rolls the ball to Opa Sangante — who eventually assists the goal — in what admittedly is not a desperate situation at the time.

Seconds after the initial screen grab, following an exchange of passes between right-back Jefferson Encada and right-winger Dalcio, the full-back sends the ball to Alfa Semedo just inside the home side’s half but the central midfielder passes back to Sangante.

Note how high the Nigeria backline is before the ball is back at the centre-back’s feet.

Also, be mindful that no player on the home side is near Sangante, now in possession on the right touchline, although Ademola Lookman appears on the move to close down the Guinea-Bissau defender. Interestingly, Osimhen recognises the danger and is seen pointing in the screen grab below for a teammate to pressure the man with the ball.

Be that as it may, the central defender is still allowed to take another touch...

...look up to survey the situation...

...and send a well-weighted ball to his out-of-shot teammate, who has darted behind Kevin Akpoguma and Calvin Bassey.

Credit must go to the centre-forward for the timing of the run, the exquisite control that followed and the commendable finish between Uzoho’s legs that decided the game.

For the denigrated Nigeria shot-stopper, the criticism whilst the game was ongoing and afterwards was countless.

Having been one of Peseiro’s better performers in the opening fixtures of the 62-year-old’s tenure, there is a sense the Omonia goalie has relapsed into old habits between the sticks, receiving criticism for the winning goal against Algeria and failing to inspire much assuredness afterwards.

Be that as it may, there is an element of the 24-year-old being an easy target after Friday’s goal conceded, with observers ignoring how Nigeria held a high line with little or no pressure on the ball.

That elementary error should provoke the ire of supporters, not what Uzoho did — or in this case, failed to do — subsequently.