Akor Adams says Super Eagles are correcting flaws after Guinea-Bissau loss

Nigeria forward Akor Adams said the Super Eagles have begun correcting the problems exposed by their 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Adams described the result as disappointing, particularly because of the importance of the fixture, but said the players had accepted responsibility. He told the Super Eagles media team that the squad had prepared seriously and understood that the match was one Nigeria should not have lost.

Nigeria opened Group L with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Uyo before suffering the heavy defeat in Bissau on September 29. Coach Éric Chelle said Guinea-Bissau had shown greater aggression and intensity, while Nigeria struggled to find solutions. Adams said the team’s standards were high and that players had to demonstrate consistently that they could meet the expectations associated with the national side.

He rejected the idea that difficult conditions could excuse the performance, although he said a good pitch should be a basic requirement for African football. The forward said many players were devastated by the result after the long trip and the significance of the qualification match. He also said he understood captain Wilfred Ndidi’s frustration with the squad’s performance.

Adams acknowledged that Nigeria had hoped to avoid a position in which qualification depended on results involving other teams. He said the setback had made the consequences clearer to the players. The Super Eagles will face Russia in Moscow on Tuesday.

Adams described the friendly as important for the squad, including newcomers and players seeking senior debuts. Nigeria and Russia drew 1-1 in their previous meeting in June 2025.