Super Eagles to Face Madagascar in AFCON Qualifier

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will commence their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on September 25, 2026, hosting Madagascar at the International Stadium in Uyo, with kick-off scheduled for 5 PM Nigerian time. Nigeria is placed in Group L alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau, and co-host Tanzania, who qualifies automatically for the tournament.

Only one of the remaining teams will secure a place in the finals. Head coach Eric Chelle announced a squad for the match but had to make a late change due to a groin injury affecting a Galatasaray forward, with Taiwo stepping in.

By the Wednesday training session prior to the match, 23 of the 24 invited players had reported to camp, with goalkeeper Maduka Okoye absent due to club commitments. Historically, Nigeria has a strong record against Madagascar, winning three out of five encounters, although Madagascar achieved a notable victory on Nigerian soil in 2019.

The match is expected to be broadcast on SuperSport channels and their streaming platforms, though official arrangements for Nigerian viewers were not confirmed at the time of writing. Alhadji Allaou Mahamat will officiate the match.