Nigeria and Ghana, two of West Africa’s most prominent football nations, faced major setbacks in their respective AFCON 2027 qualifying campaigns. In a surprising turn of events, Ghana was defeated 4-2 by The Gambia. Despite Ghana’s historical strength in the tournament, they were unable to contain The Gambia’s offensive performance.

Simultaneously, Nigeria suffered a decisive 3-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau. The result was particularly notable given the composition of the Nigerian squad, which featured seven players currently active in the English Premier League. Despite the high level of experience and professional pedigree within the Nigerian starting lineup, the team was unable to prevent the shutout or mount a comeback against Guinea-Bissau.

These results represent a significant hurdle for both teams as they look to secure their spots in the 2027 tournament. While the matches were expected to be routine victories for the historically dominant sides, the outcomes highlight the increasing competitiveness of the qualifying rounds across the continent.