Super Eagles 2027 AFCON qualifiers: Nigeria’s three opponents ranked

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will begin the road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with a group that looks manageable on paper but has one major complication, Afrik-Foot reports.

The three-time African champions were drawn against Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau in Group L at the Confederation of African Football draw in Cairo back in May.

Tanzania’s place in the group changes the qualification picture. The country is one of the three hosts, alongside Kenya and Uganda, so it already has a place at the finals. CAF confirmed that only the highest-ranked team apart from Tanzania will qualify from Group L. Nigeria, therefore, cannot simply aim to finish in the top two.

The Super Eagles enter the race as one of the 12 Pot 1 teams. Nigeria also finished third at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco and have won the continental title three times, in 1980, 1994 and 2013. The first two qualifying matchdays will take place between September 21 and October 6, 2026, followed by matches in November and March 2027.

Here is how the three opponents rank based on AFCON pedigree, squad strength, key players and recent form.

Super Eagles’ AFCON qualifying rivals ranked

1. Tanzania

Tanzania are the most interesting opponent because they do not need to qualify, yet they can directly affect Nigeria’s route to the finals. The Taifa Stars have made four AFCON appearances, beginning in 1980, but have never won a match at the finals. Their record is three draws and seven defeats from 10 games.

Their recent AFCON campaign still gives them confidence. Tanzania lost 2-1 to Nigeria in their opening game in Morocco in December 2025, then drew 1-1 with Uganda and Tunisia before losing 1-0 to Morocco. Simon Msuva and Feisal Salum were their joint top scorers in qualifying with two goals each.

Salum is the main creative threat, while Msuva gives the attack pace and movement. Tanzania also beat Madagascar 2-1 at the 2025 CHAN, with Clement Mzize scoring twice inside the opening 20 minutes.

Their youth development adds another layer. Tanzania reached their first U-17 AFCON final in June 2026, with midfielder Issa Chole named Player of the Tournament and Dismas Shida Athanasi winning the Golden Boot.

2. Madagascar

Madagascar have the strongest AFCON knockout record among Nigeria’s three opponents. The Barea reached the quarter-finals in 2019, beating Ghana and eliminating DR Congo before Tunisia ended their run with a 3-0 victory.

Their current squad has players capable of causing problems in transition. Captain Rayan Raveloson has been a key source of goals from midfield. He scored twice in a 4-1 World Cup qualifying win over Central African Republic in March 2025 and later scored in the 3-1 win over Chad.

Madagascar also pushed their World Cup campaign deep into the qualification race. They finished second in Group I behind Ghana after winning at Comoros in October 2025, although they lost 4-1 to Mali in their final game.

Their 2026 form has been mixed. They beat Kyrgyzstan 5-2 in March and drew 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea before losing 4-0 to Morocco in June. Coach Corentin Martins signed a new contract in February as the federation targets AFCON qualification.

3. Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau have become regular AFCON qualifiers, but they have not yet turned that consistency into a deep run. They made their fourth straight appearance in the 2023 edition and had never gone beyond the group stage.

The Djurtus have, however, caused Nigeria problems before. They beat the Super Eagles 1-0 in Abuja in March 2023 during the AFCON qualifying campaign. Nigeria won the return match in Bissau.

Mama Balde is their main attacking reference. His pace, strength and ability to beat defenders make him a danger in one-on-one situations. Defender Fali Cande also brings experience and scored in Guinea-Bissau’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Djibouti in September 2025.

Recent results are less convincing. Guinea-Bissau lost to Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso in March 2025, drew with Sierra Leone in September, beat Djibouti 2-0, then lost 1-0 to Ethiopia and Egypt in October. Those results ended their World Cup hopes.

Afrik-Foot’s overall ranking

Tanzania first, Madagascar second, Guinea-Bissau third. Madagascar have the best knockout pedigree, but Tanzania’s AFCON experience, home-region momentum and attacking options make them the most awkward opponent in this particular group. Guinea-Bissau have the history of upsetting Nigeria, so they cannot be treated as an easy fixture.