Nigeria vs Madagascar: 7 things Super Eagles fans need to know about the Barea

Madagascar have arrived in Nigeria ahead of Friday’s AFCON 2027 qualifier against the Super Eagles, but the Barea are not coming to Uyo simply to make up the numbers, Afrik-Foot reports.

Coach Corentin Martins has brought a 25-man squad for the opening two qualifiers, with Nigeria first on the agenda before another meeting with Tanzania four days later.

Madagascar have only played at one AFCON finals, but that single appearance produced one of the most memorable runs in recent tournament history. Their 2019 campaign included a famous win over Nigeria’s Super Eagles and a place in the quarter-finals.

Now, the Barea are trying to turn that surprise run and their more recent CHAN success into another AFCON qualification.

Madagascar: 7 things to know

Madagascar have only played at one AFCON

Madagascar’s AFCON history is short. The Barea reached the finals for the first time in 2019, making their debut in Egypt. They did not simply make up the numbers either. They reached the quarter-finals in their first appearance.

That record looks tiny beside Nigeria’s AFCON pedigree. The Super Eagles made their 21st AFCON appearance at the 2025 tournament and have already won the competition three times, in 1980, 1994 and 2013.

Madagascar therefore enter Friday’s game with far fewer finals appearances, but their only trip to the tournament produced a story Nigeria will remember very well.

They shocked Nigeria on their way to the 2019 quarter-finals

Madagascar beat Nigeria’s Super Eagles 2-0 in Alexandria during the 2019 AFCON group stage.

Goals from Lalaina Nomenjanahary and Charles Andriamahitsinoro gave the Barea a famous victory and sent them to the top of the group ahead of Nigeria. It was one of the notable upsets in AFCON history.

The result was not the end of their run. Madagascar then defeated DR Congo on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the round of 16, becoming the first team from the country to reach an AFCON quarter-final. Tunisia finally ended the adventure with a 3-0 victory in the last eight.

Friday’s meeting therefore carries an uncomfortable memory for Nigeria. The Barea have already proved once that they can punish the Super Eagles on the AFCON stage.

Madagascar missed the last 3 AFCONs

The Barea could not build another finals appearance immediately after their breakthrough in Egypt.

They missed the last three editions of the AFCON and now have another qualification campaign to fight through if they want to return to Africa’s main international tournament.

Their Group L situation makes every point important.

Nigeria, Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau are in the group, but Tanzania already have an automatic place at AFCON 2027 because they are one of the three co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda. Only the highest-ranked team apart from Tanzania will qualify from Group L.

That leaves Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau fighting for one qualification ticket.

A defeat in Uyo would therefore give the Barea a difficult start in a group where there is little room for mistakes.

Corentin Martins is leading the new Barea project

Martins took charge of Madagascar in January 2025 after coaching Libya and Mauritania and working with Algerian clubs CR Belouizdad and Paradou AC.

His previous international work gives him experience of African football. Martins guided Mauritania to consecutive AFCON appearances at the 2019 and 2021 tournaments.

Madagascar extended his contract in February 2026, with qualification for AFCON 2027 set as the clear objective of the project.

His squad selection also shows a willingness to look beyond established names.

Martins initially handed Troyes goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher his first Madagascar call-up, while striker Roman Ferber was also selected for his first senior international opportunity. Warren Caddy returned to the squad to add experience in attack.

Boucher, however, was subsequently withdrawn from the September squad after the Malagasy Football Federation revisited public comments he made in a 2018 interview about representing Madagascar.

The late change leaves Martins with another selection decision to solve before facing the Super Eagles.

The Barea have experienced players and fresh faces

Martins’ original 25-man squad contained a mixture of players with international experience and new recruits.

Rayan Raveloson is one of the names Nigeria should know. The midfielder has been one of Madagascar’s most involved players in 2026, starting 10 matches and scoring five goals.

Loïc Lapoussin offers another attacking threat from midfield and the wide areas. He has recorded one goal and two assists in six appearances this year.

Experienced defender Thomas Fontaine is another important figure. The 34-year-old was included in Martins’ September squad after building a long international career with the Barea.

Marco Ilaimaharitra also brings experience to the midfield, while Warren Caddy’s return gives Martins another attacking option.

The mix means Nigeria will face a side that combines players familiar with international football with newcomers hungry to make their mark.

Madagascar are coming off a historic CHAN final

The Barea’s 2019 AFCON run was not their last major continental breakthrough. In August 2025, Madagascar reached their first-ever CHAN final after beating Sudan 1-0 in extra time in the semi-final.

Toky Rakotondraibe scored in the 116th minute at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam to send Madagascar into the final.

The African Nations Championship is restricted to players who play in their domestic leagues, so the run offered a clear sign of progress within Madagascar’s home-based football system.

Morocco eventually won the final 3-2 in Nairobi, with Oussama Lamlaoui scoring twice, but Madagascar left the tournament with silver medals after reaching a continental final for the first time.

That achievement gives the Barea a more recent source of confidence than their famous 2019 AFCON campaign.

Friday’s Uyo clash starts a demanding week

Nigeria will face Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 GMT. The game is Nigeria’s opening fixture in Group L of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers.

Madagascar then leave for Morocco, which serves as their home ground, to face Tanzania on September 29, only four days after the Uyo match. Nigeria will travel to tackle Guinea-Bissau on the same day.

The Barea therefore begin their campaign against Nigeria before facing one of the tournament’s co-hosts.

Nigeria will also have to manage the opening qualifier without Victor Osimhen, who has been ruled out of both September AFCON qualifiers with a muscle injury suffered while playing for Galatasaray against Başakşehir.

The Super Eagles still have established attackers such as Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze, while Eric Chelle has also introduced Arthur Okonkwo, Isaac James and George Ilenikhena to the squad. Nigeria vs Madagascar kicks off at 5pm on Friday.