2023 AFCON: Chukwueze reveals why Guinea-Bissau players looked fresh in loss to Super Eagles

Samuel Chukwueze noted that the Guinea-Bissau players looked fresh in Monday evening's 2023 Africa Cup of Nations match against Nigeria at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan because several changes were made to the starting lineup.

With the 1-0 win over the Wild Dogs, the Super Eagles clinched second spot in Group A and will face the second-best placed team in Group C on Saturday evening.

Heading into the fixture with Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau were faced with a daunting task to qualify for the knockout stages as they were pointless after their first two games following losses to Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea. 

Looking to give minutes to the fringe players in his squad, manager Baciro Candé made several changes to his starting lineup. 

Of the eleven players that started Guinea Bissau's 4-2 loss to Equatorial Guinea, only Gaziantep FK midfielder Janio Bikel kept his place in the starting lineup for the game against Nigeria.

Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone on Monday evening, Chukwueze said: "I'm so happy that we won today but it wasn't easy. We wanted to take the first position in the table but it didn't happen. We have to keep fighting and now it's the knockout stage we have to keep focusing.

"It was difficult for us today because they wanted to win and were not under pressure. They had the full confidence to change the whole team so they are fresh.

"A team that is fresh that doesn't have anything to lose so it was a little bit difficult for us.

"We created so many chances and didn't take it, the goal was an own goal. It's a good result for us to stay in second place. At the moment we just focus on the knockout stage."

Nigeria will face the second-placed team in Group C on January 27 at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny stadium in Abidjan.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 
 

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