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Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle has challenged his squad to make a strong statement when Nigeria begins its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Madagascar.
The encounter is scheduled for Friday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, with Nigeria looking to secure maximum points from its first Group L fixture.
Chelle stressed the importance of starting the qualification race on the right footing, urging the players to maintain their intensity and concentration rather than allow the opposition to settle into the contest.
After the Madagascar fixture, Nigeria will travel to Guinea-Bissau for another Group L match on September 29, giving the team little time to recover before its next assignment.
The Super Eagles have previously met Madagascar five times, winning three of those encounters, drawing once and suffering one defeat. Their most recent setback against the island nation came at the 2019 AFCON, where Madagascar recorded a 2-0 victory.
Nigeria’s other Group L opponents are Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania. Tanzania already has an automatic place at the 2027 AFCON because it is among the countries hosting the tournament.
With the qualifiers now getting underway, Chelle will be looking for his players to turn their preparation into a convincing performance and collect an early result in the race for qualification.
