Nigeria vs Madagascar: 5 facts Super Eagles fans may not know

It is Nigeria vs Madagascar again as the Super Eagles begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign against a familiar but dangerous opponent at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, Afrik-Foot reports.

Kick-off is scheduled for 4pm GMT, with Nigeria entering the Group L opener carrying a 3-1-1 record from the five previous meetings between the countries.

Yet the numbers conceal an intriguing story. Madagascar failed to win any of their first four encounters with Nigeria without scoring a single goal, only to produce the most famous result in the fixture’s history when they defeated the Super Eagles 2-0 at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.

The Barea also arrive in Nigeria as a team that has continued to make continental history since that remarkable campaign.

Here are five Nigeria vs Madagascar facts that add extra colour to Friday’s meeting.

Nigeria vs Madagascar facts

1. Nigeria vs Madagascar: The rivalry began with a 0-0 draw

Nigeria and Madagascar first crossed paths on October 7, 2000, during the qualifying campaign for the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations.

The match took place at the Alarobia Municipal Stadium in Antananarivo, where neither team could find a way through in a goalless Group 1 encounter.

The draw meant Nigeria had to wait until the return fixture before scoring their first goal against Madagascar.

That breakthrough arrived on June 2, 2001, when Benedict Akwuegbu struck in the fourth minute to give the Super Eagles a 1-0 victory at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

Nigeria subsequently won the next two meetings, beating Madagascar 2-0 in Calabar in September 2010 and by the same scoreline in Antananarivo in September 2011.

Before the Barea stunned the Super Eagles in Egypt, Nigeria had built a remarkably comfortable history against them.

2. Nigeria vs Madagascar: La Barea went four games without scoring against Super Eagles

The first four meetings produced an extraordinary pattern.

Madagascar drew 0-0 with Nigeria in 2000, lost 1-0 in Benin City in 2001, suffered a 2-0 defeat in Calabar in 2010 and then lost 2-0 at home in 2011.

That left the Barea with zero goals from four matches, while Nigeria had scored five.

Then came Alexandria. On June 30, 2019, Madagascar scored twice against Nigeria in the space of 40 minutes to tear up the old script.

Lalaïna Nomenjanahary put the Barea ahead in the 13th minute, before Carolus Andriamatsinoro doubled the lead in the 53rd minute. The 2-0 victory was Madagascar’s first-ever win and first goals against Nigeria.

Five matches into the rivalry, the Barea’s record had swung from four games without a goal to a victory that became one of the defining moments in their football history.

3. Nigeria vs Madagascar: Barea top Super Eagles

Madagascar did not just beat Nigeria in 2019. They finished above them. The 2019 result is often remembered as a major AFCON upset, but its significance went beyond Nigeria’s defeat.

Madagascar entered the final Group B fixture having already drawn 2-2 with Guinea and beaten Burundi 1-0. The victory over Nigeria took them to seven points, enough to finish first in the group. Nigeria finished second on six points.

The Barea then survived another dramatic contest in the round of 16, drawing 2-2 with the Democratic Republic of Congo before winning the penalty shootout 4-2.

Their adventure finally ended in the quarter-finals, where Tunisia defeated them 3-0.

Madagascar’s five-match campaign produced two wins, two draws and one defeat, seven goals scored and seven conceded.

The Nigeria victory was therefore not a lucky detour in an otherwise ordinary tournament. It formed part of a historic run that carried Madagascar to the last eight on their AFCON debut.

4. Nigeria vs Madagascar: That 2019 tournament is still Barea’s only AFCON appearance

Madagascar have never returned to the Africa Cup of Nations since their extraordinary debut in Egypt.

Their qualification for the 2019 tournament was the first in their history, and their quarter-final run remains their best and only appearance in the finals.

The Barea subsequently failed to qualify for the 2021, 2023 and 2025 editions.

Their recent qualifying records tell the story of how difficult the road back has been. Madagascar collected eight points in the 2021 qualifiers, three in the 2023 campaign and only two during the 2025 qualification race.

Madagascar are, therefore, trying to reopen the door to the tournament where they first captured continental attention, while Nigeria are trying to avoid allowing another chapter of the 2019 story to define this rivalry.

5. Nigeria vs Madagascar: Super Eagles are heavy favourites on paper

Super Eagles, three-time African champions, are the favourites to secure a straightforward home win on Friday.

Eric Chelle’s men are ranked 26th in the world, despite not participating at this year’s FIFA World Cup. That places Nigeria 78 places above Madagascar (104th) on the FIFA ranking.

Madagascar’s most dangerous stars are captain Rayan Raveloson, who has nine goals in 50 international appearances, and forward Arnaud Randrianantenaina with 5 goals for Barea.

Interestingly, the Super Eagles’ number one striker, Victor Osimhen is unavailable due to injury and will not be able to add to his 35 international goals.

Coach Chelle can, however, count on the talents of Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, and Ademola Lookman, all with 10 or more goals for the Super Eagles.