Ex-international forward Victor Ikpeba has absolved Stanley Nwabali of any responsibility following Nigeria’s humbling 3–0 loss away to Guinea-Bissau in their 2027 AFCON qualification series. Instead, the 1994 tournament champion directed his frustration toward the backline’s dismal organization.
The Djurtus took control of Group L after Franculino Djú netted the opener, Mama Baldé doubled the lead, and Álvaro Djaló capped off the dominant display late in stoppage time.
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Speaking on Sports247, Ikpeba urged fans and critics not to scapegoat Nwabali, arguing that the netminder was completely exposed by those shielding him. He highlighted Baldé’s brilliantly placed second-half strike as a clear example of elite skill that no keeper could realistically stop.
According to the former African Footballer of the Year, Nigeria’s true downfall stemmed from a lack of positional awareness and defensive discipline. He noted that the team failed to press or track opposition forwards whenever possession changed hands, giving Guinea-Bissau free rein to exploit wide gaps throughout the match.
With Nigeria sitting second on three points, the coaching staff faces an urgent task to fix these backline flaws before November’s crucial double-header against Tanzania.
