Nigeria's Super Eagles Rally to Beat Madagascar in AFCON Qualifiers

During the opening matchday of the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers, held from September 24 to 26, Nigeria's Super Eagles secured a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Group L. Ehsan Kari scored first for Madagascar in the 16th minute, but Nigeria equalized through George Ilenikhena in first-half stoppage time. Substitute Moses Usor completed the comeback with a goal in the 65th minute.

This win places Nigeria level on three points with Guinea-Bissau, who defeated Tanzania 2-0 away. Other notable results included Zimbabwe's dramatic 3-2 comeback against Sierra Leone, where they recovered from a 2-0 deficit.

Egypt, a seven-time champion, drew 0-0 with Angola, while Senegal, under new coach Patrick Vieira, drew 1-1 with Mozambique. Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Algeria, and Cameroon also began their campaigns with victories, showcasing a competitive start to the qualifiers.