RismadarVoice Reporters
September 23, 2026
Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle says Nigeria will target maximum points from their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau as the team seeks to avoid another difficult qualifying campaign.
Nigeria begin their Group L campaign against Madagascar’s Barea at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25, before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau four days later.
Chelle said the Super Eagles must establish their qualification ambitions from the opening fixture and avoid the kind of slow start that complicated their recent FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
“We have to show everyone from Day One that we want it, and the only way to do that is to go for it with our hearts, and refuse to slow down at any point. We must go for the points without any hesitation,” Chelle said.
The coach will have defenders Ola Aina and Benjamin Fredricks available for the opening fixtures, while Taiwo Awoniyi has returned to the squad following the absence of Victor Osimhen.
Chelle also has options in goal, with Maduka Okoye and Stanley Nwabali available alongside Arthur Okonkwo.
In defence, Aina, Fredricks, Bruno Onyemaechi, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Chibuike Nwaiwu are among the players competing for places.
Nigeria’s attacking options include Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Akor Adams, Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare, George Ilenikhena, Moses Usor and Awoniyi.
Friday’s encounter will renew a rivalry that has produced contrasting results for Nigeria.
The Super Eagles defeated Madagascar 2-0 in Calabar in September 2010 during AFCON qualifying before recording another 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture in Antananarivo the following year.
Madagascar, however, defeated Nigeria 2-0 during the group stage of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. The Super Eagles had already secured qualification for the knockout stage before the encounter.
Madagascar arrived in Uyo three days ahead of Friday’s fixture as both teams prepare to begin their qualification campaigns.
Nigeria will then travel to Bissau on Sunday ahead of their second qualifier against Guinea-Bissau at the 24 de Setembro Stadium on Tuesday, September 29.
SUPER EAGLES SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Arthur Okonkwo, Maduka Okoye, Stanley Nwabali.
Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi, Isaac James, Benjamin Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ola Aina.
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka.
Forwards: Moses Simon, Taiwo Awoniyi, Akor Adams, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Tolu Arokodare, George Ilenikhena, Moses Usor.
