Nigeria’s Super Eagles will have a new captain lead the team out of the dressing room when they face Guinea-Bissau in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Tuesday evening, Soccernet.ng reports.
EPL top earner Alex Iwobi will captain Nigeria against the Djurtus (Wild Dogs) as the Super Eagles return to AFCON 2027 qualifying action with three points already in the bank and a difficult away assignment waiting in Bissau.
The Fulham midfielder takes the armband from Wilfred Ndidi, who led Nigeria in Friday’s 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, per a Daily Post report. The change gives Iwobi, a Premier League record maker, an expanded leadership role after he supplied the pass for George Ilenikhena’s equaliser in first-half stoppage time.
/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F09%2Fhttps___media.soccernet.ng_main_2026_05_WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-19-at-15.33.18-1.webp)
AFCON QUALIFIERS
Guinea-Bissau vs Super Eagles: 7 interesting facts Nigeria fans must know – Soccernet NG
Read →
/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F03%2Fimago1070909826.jpg)
Iwobi was central to Nigeria’s recovery against Madagascar, finding Ilenikhena with a precise ball that allowed the 20-year-old to mark his senior debut with a goal. Moses Usor then completed the comeback in the 65th minute, only four minutes after replacing Samuel Chukwueze.
The captaincy switch comes as Eric Chelle weighs his options for a match that could reshape Group L after only two rounds of fixtures.
Iwobi takes charge as Super Eagles chase another crucial win
Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau both opened the campaign with victories, but the Djurtus sit above the Super Eagles on goal difference after beating Tanzania 2-0 in Zanzibar.
Franculino Djú broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute before Mama Baldé struck in the 58th, giving Guinea-Bissau a two-goal advantage that Nigeria could not match against Madagascar.
Tuesday’s encounter will be played at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro in Bissau, with kick-off scheduled for 5pm Nigerian time.
/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F09%2Fimago1083807853h.jpg)
Chelle has 24 players available in camp, although Victor Osimhen is absent after the Galatasaray striker suffered a right thigh muscle strain against Başakşehir. Taiwo Awoniyi was subsequently added to the squad.
Nigeria have history on their side in Bissau. The Super Eagles won 1-0 at the same venue during the previous AFCON qualifying cycle, with Moses Simon scoring the decisive goal.
The stakes are unusually sharp because Tanzania are co-hosts of AFCON 2027 alongside Kenya and Uganda and therefore qualify automatically. Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar are consequently competing for the group’s single remaining qualifying place.
A victory would take Iwobi and the Super Eagles to six points from their opening two matches while leaving Guinea-Bissau on three, giving Chelle’s side an early advantage in a group where every dropped point could carry a heavy price.
