Nigeria vs Madagascar: Super Eagles Begin AFCON 2027 Qualifying Campaign Without Osimhen

ENDED

2027 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifyers

Nigeria

2—1FT

Madagascar

Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, UyoReferee: Alhadji Allaou MahamatSeptember 25, 2026 5:00 pm

Overview Lineups Timeline Comments

•

●FULLTIME

Full-time

ShareWhatsAppFacebookXCopy link

•

⚽GOAL

GOAL — Nigeria

ShareWhatsAppFacebookXCopy link

61′

↕SUBSTITUTION

Nigeria substitution

↓Akor AdamsOUT

↑Moses SimonIN

61′

ShareWhatsAppFacebookXCopy link

56′

●COMMENTARY

Nigeria Needs to be Careful

Nigeria is lucky the visitors did not score that goal. it would have been a big issue

ShareWhatsAppFacebookXCopy link

•

●SECOND HALF

Second half begins

ShareWhatsAppFacebookXCopy link

•

●HALFTIME

Half-time

ShareWhatsAppFacebookXCopy link

45+1′

⚽GOAL

GOAL — Nigeria: George Ilenikhena

George Ilenikhena

ShareWhatsAppFacebookXCopy link

The Super Eagles begin their road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations on Friday, September 25, when they host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

Kick-off is 5:00pm Nigerian time. Nigeria enters the game with one major attacking problem: Victor Osimhen is unavailable because of a right-thigh muscle strain, with Taiwo Awoniyi called up as his replacement.

But the bigger picture is the qualification race. Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau are competing for the one qualification place available to a non-host in Group L, because co-host Tanzania is automatically qualified.