The Super Eagles begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on Friday the 25th september 2026 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo with a familiar opponent, Madagascar a changed set of circumstances and an old result still sitting in the background.
Madagascar arrive at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo for a Group L opener that carries greater significance than an ordinary first qualifying fixture. With co-hosts Tanzania already assured of their place at the tournament, Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau effectively have one remaining qualification ticket to fight for.
That makes Friday’s meeting an early opportunity for Eric Chelle’s side to establish themselves before Nigeria travel to Guinea-Bissau just four days later.
The Super Eagles will have to begin that campaign without Victor Osimhen, who has been ruled out after failing to recover fully from a muscle injury. His absence removes Nigeria’s most established attacking reference point, but Chelle still has a squad containing considerable firepower.
Taiwo Awoniyi has been brought in as Osimhen’s replacement, while Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Tolu Arokodare and Akor Adams give the coach several alternatives in attack.
Yet Madagascar’s presence should ensure that Nigeria approach the contest with caution.
A familiar opponent with an unwanted memory
On paper, Nigeria have the better record against Madagascar. The Super Eagles have won three of their five previous meetings, with one draw and one defeat. They won their first three AFCON qualifying encounters against the Barea, beating them 1-0 in 2001 before recording 2-0 victories in 2010 and 2011.
But the most recent meeting remains the one that matters most in the memory. at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, Madagascar stunned Nigeria 2-0 in their final Group B fixture to finish top of the section.
Nigeria still advanced as runners-up, but the result established that the Barea were capable of producing a result against the Super Eagles when the stakes were high.
Seven years later, Madagascar return with another opportunity to disrupt Nigeria’s plans.
The challenge is not simply to beat an opponent Nigeria are expected to overcome. It is to ensure that the Super Eagles’ superior history translates into a strong start when the qualification margin is already unusually narrow.
Nigeria’s recent form offers encouragement
Nigeria’s competitive schedule has been quiet since their thirdplace finish at the 2025 AFCON, but their recent international results have provided some reasons for optimism.
Chelle’s team defeated Iran 2-1 in March before beating Zimbabwe 2-0 and Jamaica 3-0 in May.
The Super Eagles then drew 2-2 with Poland in June before suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat to Portugal.
Madagascar’s recent results have been less consistent.
The Barea were beaten 4-0 by Morocco in June, although that followed victories over Kyrgyzstan, Equatorial Guinea and Comoros. They also suffered a 4-1 defeat to Mali in October.
Those results underline the unpredictability Nigeria will face in Uyo. Madagascar have shown enough attacking threat to punish an opponent that loses concentration, while their previous victory over the Super Eagles provides an obvious psychological reference point.
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The biggest selection question surrounding Nigeria is how Chelle replaces Osimhen.
The Galatasaray striker was initially included in the squad before his continuing muscle problem forced him out. Awoniyi was subsequently drafted into the group, providing another experienced option at centre-forward.
Chelle can also call upon Arokodare and Adams, while Lookman offers another route to goal from a wider attacking position.
The greater question may be how Nigeria compensate collectively for the absence of a striker whose presence can occupy defenders, stretch the opposition and provide a focal point for the attack.
The Super Eagles still possess plenty of individual quality, but Madagascar’s defensive structure could determine whether that quality produces an early breakthrough.
There is also an opportunity for some of Nigeria’s less experienced players.
Isaac James and George Ilenikhena are among those receiving their first competitive senior call-ups, although the greater expectation will remain on the established core featuring Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey and Stanley Nwabali.
Madagascar meanwhile arrive with experience
Madagascar are not short of players who understand the demands of international football.
Rayan Raveloson, Marco Ilaimaharitra and Loïc Lapoussin bring experience to the Barea midfield and attack, while Warren Caddy has returned to the national team.
Goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher’s situation has also attracted attention after he was initially called up before being withdrawn following the resurfacing of controversial comments he made in 2018 about representing Madagascar.
Boucher was subsequently seen training with the squad in Uyo, although there had been no formal confirmation of his reinstatement at the time of the source report.
The bigger story for Madagascar is the opportunity to repeat the kind of performance that produced their famous 2019 victory.
The qualification equation
With Tanzania automatically qualified as a co-host, the usual Group L mathematics is different.
Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau are effectively competing for the remaining qualifying place available to the highest ranked non-host nation in the group.
That makes every point valuable from the opening round.
Nigeria’s schedule adds another layer to the equation. The Super Eagles face Guinea-Bissau only four days after Friday’s meeting, meaning Chelle will have to balance the immediate demand for three points with the physical and tactical demands of the second fixture.
A strong opening result would provide momentum but anything less would immediately increase the pressure surrounding the trip to Guinea-Bissau.
Possible line-ups
Nigeria: Stanley Nwabali; Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi; Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi; Ademola Lookman; Tolu Arokodare, Akor Adams.
Madagascar: Geordan Dupire; Andy Pelmard, Thomas Fontaine, Rado Rabemanantsoa, Mathieu Acapandié; Marco Ilaimaharitra, Rayan Raveloson, Loïc Lapoussin; Warren Caddy, Hakim Abdallah, Arnaud Randrianantenaina.
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Nigeria have the stronger historical record, the deeper pool of established international players and home advantage.
But Madagascar have already demonstrated that those advantages do not automatically settle this fixture.
The 2019 defeat remains the clearest warning against complacency, while Osimhen’s absence adds another layer of uncertainty to Nigeria’s attacking approach.
Chelle’s first task is starting the campaign with authority, avoid another early stumble and put Nigeria in control of a qualification race in which there is little room for wasted points.
In Uyo, the Super Eagles have the chance to begin that process and erase some of the memory of the last time Madagascar stood in their way.
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