By Victor Kanayo
Midfielder maestro Alex Iwobi has assured that Super Eagles will ensure that Nigeria will bounce back after a shock home loss to Guinea-Bissau in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying on Friday.
Iwobi spoke in a post match reaction, captured by Heritage Times HT in Abuja, said Nigerians should expect a quick reaction from the team in the return scheduled for Monday in Morocco.
He also appealed to fans to be patient and support their resolve to turn things around.
“All we can do is improve and, to the fans, all I can say is that they should stick by us and support us because we give 100 per cent not just for ourselves, but also for our nation.
“Next time we are going to do our best and make the country proud,” Iwobi, a former Arsenal star said.
In defeating the Nigerian side, the Wild Dogs of Guinea broke a long standing record.
Before March 24, 2023, Nigeria have never lost to the Guinea side.
“This type of result is unacceptable. It’s nothing to write home about. I don’t know what caused this, but this is certainly not what Nigerians will want to see,” Mallam Al Hassan Yakmut, former Director-General of National Sports Commission told Heritage Times HT on Saturday, day after the Super Eagles AFCON debacle at home.
Mama Balde scored for the Wild Dogs, who are ranked 81 places lower than the Super Eagles in the FIFA world rankings, in one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history.
Balde, who plays for French top-tier club Troyes, scored on 30 minutes in Abuja to take the Portuguese-speaking nation to the top of the table.
As it stands, Guinea-Bissau have seven points, one more than Nigeria with six.
Sierra Leone two and Sao Tome and Principe one, halfway through the six-round mini-league.
The top two finishers progress to the finals of the biennial continental showpiece scheduled for Cote d’ivoire.
