Former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba has openly criticized the Super Eagles' defensive performance following their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. Ikpeba, who made his remarks during an analysis on SuperSport, defended goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, asserting that the blame for the loss lies squarely with the defenders.

The match, which saw Nigeria struggle significantly, began with Guinea-Bissau taking the lead just 15 minutes in, courtesy of a goal from Franculino. This early setback set the tone for the game, with the Djurtus dominating play. Guinea-Bissau's captain, Mama Baldé, doubled their lead in the 66th minute, showcasing his pace and strength to maneuver past Nigeria's Bright Osayi-Samuel before scoring. Álvaro Djaló sealed the victory with a stoppage-time goal, leaving Nigeria in a precarious position in their qualifying group.

Ikpeba emphasized that Nwabali should not be held accountable for the goals conceded, noting that the defensive unit failed to effectively track opponents throughout the match. He remarked, "Defensively, we didn't defend well. If you don't defend well in this type of game and you qualify for the AFCON, defensively, we were poor."

The former Monaco striker highlighted specific moments in the match that illustrated Nigeria's defensive frailties. He pointed out that the first goal was a result of inadequate marking, stating, "For the first goal, they did not mark the striker. We lack marking players, so we were penalised. You cannot hold Nwabali responsible for the third goal."

Ikpeba's analysis reflects a growing concern regarding Nigeria's defensive organization under the current coaching staff. The Super Eagles currently sit second in Group L with three points, trailing six points behind group leaders Guinea-Bissau. Their next challenge will be a crucial home-and-away fixture against Tanzania in November, where they will need to regroup and address the defensive issues that were glaringly exposed in the recent match.

In light of the defeat, Eric Chelle, the team's coach, has also expressed regret, apologizing to Nigerian fans and taking responsibility for the team's performance. The heavy loss has raised urgent questions about potential changes to the coaching strategy and player selection ahead of the upcoming qualifiers, as the pressure mounts on the technical staff to rectify the identified weaknesses in the team’s defense.