Nigeria will begin the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Madagascar on Friday, September 25, 2026, with the Super Eagles hosting the Barea at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The Group L fixture is scheduled to kick off at 5pm Nigerian time, with both teams looking to make a positive start to the qualifying series.
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Nigeria enter the contest without injured striker Victor Osimhen, leaving head coach Eric Chelle with a significant decision to make in attack.
Osimhen, who plays for Galatasaray, is expected to miss the encounter because of injury. Chelle could turn to Adams Akor or Taiwo Awoniyi to lead the Super Eagles’ attack.
The match will be the first of Nigeria’s qualifying fixtures in a group that also includes Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania.
Tanzania are already guaranteed a place at the 2027 AFCON finals as one of the co-hosts. Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar will therefore join Nigeria in competing for the remaining qualification place from the group.
The qualification structure means the highest-placed team among Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar will secure the remaining spot.
Nigeria’s next fixture will come away against Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, while Madagascar are scheduled to face Tanzania.
The Super Eagles will be looking to make home advantage count when they face Madagascar in Uyo.
Nigeria have a favourable recent head-to-head record against the Barea, winning three of their previous five meetings.
The other two encounters produced one draw and one defeat for Nigeria, with the Super Eagles scoring five goals and conceding two across those five matches.
However, past meetings will offer limited comfort once the teams take to the pitch, with both sides beginning a new qualification campaign under different circumstances.
For Chelle, the immediate challenge will be finding a reliable attacking option in Osimhen’s absence while ensuring Nigeria begin the campaign with the result needed to build qualification race beginning in Uyo, the Super Eagles will hope to turn their home advantage into an important momentum.
Madagascar, meanwhile, will arrive knowing that the group offers little room for error because only one of the three non-host teams can ultimately qualify.
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With the qualification race beginning in Uyo, the Super Eagles will hope to turn their home advantage into an important opening result before travelling to Guinea-Bissau for their second match.
Ibrahim Onipede is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
