Nigeria vs Madagascar: 2 reasons Chelle’s men must avoid defeat in AFCON 2027 qualifier

Nigeria will kick off their campaign at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with their first qualifying match against Madagascar on Friday, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Super Eagles will be hoping to make a fast start and will also be looking to avenge their 2-0 defeat to the Barea in the 2019 AFCON group stage.

Head coach Eric Chelle has named a 24-man squad for the qualifiers, with another important game against Guinea-Bissau to come next week.

However, talisman Victor Osimhen dropped out of the squad after picking up an injury and was eventually replaced by Taiwo Awoniyi for both matches.

Ahead of the clash, there are several reasons why Eric Chelle’s side cannot afford to lose against Madagascar.

Nigeria must avoid another major disappointment

Nigeria will be looking to avoid another major disappointment of missing out on a major tournament, which is one of the biggest reasons they must avoid defeat against Madagascar.

The Super Eagles last failed to qualify for the AFCON in 2017, having missed two straight editions in 2015 and 2017. They will be determined to avoid another setback this time around.

Nigeria also failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing to DR Congo in the playoff final.

A slow start to the World Cup qualifying campaign left the Super Eagles with too much ground to make up. Although they improved later in the campaign, it was ultimately not enough to secure a place at the tournament.

That experience makes a positive start to the AFCON qualifiers even more important. Losing to Madagascar would immediately put pressure on Chelle’s men and make the road to qualification more difficult. With Guinea-Bissau also waiting next week, Nigeria need to collect as many points as possible from their opening games.

Avoiding defeat against Madagascar would at least ensure that the Super Eagles do not give themselves unnecessary problems from the beginning.

To reaffirm the Super Eagles status as one of Africa’s best teams

Another reason Nigeria must avoid defeat is the need to restore their status as one of Africa’s leading football nations.

The Super Eagles will miss the World Cup for the second consecutive edition after failing to qualify for the 2026 tournament, and another major disappointment in the AFCON qualifiers would only increase the pressure surrounding the team.

Nigeria remain one of the continent’s most successful football nations, having won the AFCON three times and consistently competed among Africa’s top sides.

However, recent disappointments have damaged some of the confidence around the team. The Super Eagles will therefore be looking to put that fear factor back into their opponents and show that they still have what it takes to compete at the highest level.

A strong performance against Madagascar would be an opportunity for Chelle’s men to send an early signal that Nigeria are serious about qualifying for the 2027 AFCON.

They will want to start the campaign on the front foot, take control of Group L and make it clear to their opponents that they are determined to return to the top of African football.

Nigeria will face Madagascar hoping for a win that can set the tone for the rest of their qualifying campaign. A positive result in Uyo would give Chelle’s side the perfect start and put them in a stronger position ahead of their meeting with Guinea-Bissau next week.