Nigeria vs Madagascar: Super Eagles AFCON 2027 Qualifier, Kick-off Time, Squad, Head-to-Head & How to Watch Live
Super Eagles begin their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign against Madagascar in Uyo without injured Victor Osimhen.
Nigeria vs Madagascar will headline the Super Eagles' return to competitive football as Éric Chelle's side begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on Friday, September 25, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
The Group L encounter kicks off at 4:00pm GMT, 5:00pm WAT (Nigerian time).
For Nigeria, this will be the country's first competitive match since the AFCON 2025 third-place play-off against Egypt on January 17, 2026, when the Super Eagles drew 0-0 before winning 4-2 on penalties to finish third.
The Super Eagles subsequently played six matches outside the AFCON tournament, including the Unity Cup meetings with Zimbabwe and Jamaica and international friendlies against Iran, Jordan, Poland and Portugal.
Nigeria will now turn their attention back to competitive football with a new AFCON qualification campaign and a squad that includes several familiar faces as well as three players yet to make their senior international debuts.
Nigeria begin another AFCON qualification campaign
The Super Eagles are in Group L alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania.
The group has a different qualification situation because Tanzania is one of the three hosts of AFCON 2027 and has already secured a place at the tournament.
That means only the highest-ranked team among Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau will qualify from Group L.
Nigeria's first two fixtures are therefore particularly important.
After Friday's meeting with Madagascar, the Super Eagles will travel to face Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, September 29, while Madagascar will host Tanzania on the same day.
The remaining group windows are scheduled for November 9-17, 2026, and March 22-30, 2027.
Nigeria's recent form
Nigeria have played 10 senior men's internationals in 2026 before Friday's qualifier.
Their AFCON 2025 campaign continued into January 2026, producing four matches:
Nigeria 4-0 Mozambique
Algeria 0-2 Nigeria
Morocco 0-0 Nigeria, Morocco won 4-2 on penalties
Egypt 0-0 Nigeria, Nigeria won 4-2 on penalties
The Super Eagles then played six matches outside the AFCON tournament:
Iran 1-2 Nigeria
Jordan 2-2 Nigeria
Nigeria 2-0 Zimbabwe
Jamaica 0-3 Nigeria
Poland 2-2 Nigeria
Portugal 2-1 Nigeria
That leaves Nigeria with six wins, two draws and two defeats across their 10 internationals in 2026 before the Madagascar match.
Nigeria's last five competitive matches
Looking only at competitive matches, Nigeria's most recent five are:
Uganda 1-3 Nigeria
Nigeria 4-0 Mozambique
Algeria 0-2 Nigeria
Morocco 0-0 Nigeria, Morocco won 4-2 on penalties
Egypt 0-0 Nigeria, Nigeria won 4-2 on penalties
Osimhen ruled out, Awoniyi comes in
Victor Osimhen will miss both of Nigeria's opening AFCON 2027 qualifiers after being ruled out with a muscle injury.
The Galatasaray striker was originally included in Chelle's squad, but the Nigeria Football Federation subsequently confirmed that he would miss the Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau matches while continuing his recovery from a muscle strain involving his right thigh.
Taiwo Awoniyi was subsequently called up to replace Osimhen.
The Coventry City striker returns to the Super Eagles squad as Nigeria look for alternative options in attack.
Three players could make their Super Eagles debuts
Chelle's squad includes three players who are yet to make their senior debut for Nigeria:
Isaac James, George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor.
James is a defender who plays for Alverca in Portugal, while Ilenikhena is a forward with Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia and Usor is a forward with LASK in Austria.
Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo is also part of the squad, but he is not a first-time senior international. He already featured for the Super Eagles during the 2026 Unity Cup.
Full Super Eagles squad
Goalkeepers: Arthur Okonkwo, Maduka Okoye, Stanley Nwabali
Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi, Isaac James, Benjamin Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Olaoluwa Aina
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka
Forwards: Moses Simon, Taiwo Awoniyi, Akor Adams, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Tolu Arokodare, George Ilenikhena, Moses Usor
Ndidi leads the Super Eagles
Wilfred Ndidi remains the captain of the Super Eagles and is expected to lead the team in Uyo.
Stanley Nwabali and Ola Aina have returned to the national team, adding experience to a squad that also includes players such as Lookman, Iwobi, Simon, Chukwueze and Onyeka.
Nigeria's first training session took place in Uyo on Tuesday, September 22, with 23 players involved.
Ndidi, Chukwueze and Nwabali were among the players who had arrived shortly before the session.
Maduka Okoye was the only member of the 24-man squad yet to join the camp at that point. Reports said the Udinese goalkeeper had permission to attend to personal matters and was expected to arrive before the Madagascar match.
There is currently no confirmed additional injury or withdrawal from the squad beyond Osimhen.
Madagascar arrive in Uyo
Madagascar's Barea arrived in Uyo ahead of Friday's opening qualifier, with coach Corentin Martins bringing a 25-man squad for the September fixtures.
Madagascar's recent senior results in 2026 include a 5-2 win over Kyrgyzstan, a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea and a 4-0 defeat to Morocco.
The Barea also have a number of experienced players in their squad, including midfielders Marco Ilaimaharitra and Rayan Raveloson, as well as winger Loïc Lapoussin. Their attack includes Hakim Abdallah, Arnaud Randrianantenaina and returning forward Warren Caddy.
Madagascar's run to the final of the 2025 CHAN also gives Martins' side some recent continental momentum, although the CHAN and AFCON qualifying squads and competitions are not identical.
Zacharie Boucher dropped from squad
One unusual development in Madagascar's preparations concerns goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher.
The Troyes goalkeeper was initially handed his first senior call-up by Martins. However, old comments from a 2018 interview resurfaced after his selection. The Malagasy Football Federation subsequently decided not to retain him for the current international gathering after discussions involving the relevant parties. Boucher had represented France at youth level but had never played for the French senior team.
Nigeria vs Madagascar head-to-head
The senior men's teams have met five times, all in AFCON qualifying or tournament matches.
October 7, 2000: Madagascar 0-0 Nigeria
June 2, 2001: Nigeria 1-0 Madagascar
September 5, 2010: Nigeria 2-0 Madagascar
September 4, 2011: Madagascar 0-2 Nigeria
June 30, 2019: Madagascar 2-0 Nigeria
Nigeria have won three, drawn one and lost one of the five meetings.
The most recent meeting produced one of Madagascar's most notable results against Nigeria, with the Barea winning 2-0 at the 2019 AFCON in Alexandria.
Group L: the road to AFCON 2027
Nigeria, Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania make up Group L.
Tanzania are automatically qualified as one of the three AFCON 2027 co-hosts, meaning the highest-ranked team among the other three nations will take the group's qualifying place.
Matchday 1
Nigeria vs Madagascar
Tanzania vs Guinea-Bissau
Matchday 2
Madagascar vs Tanzania
Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria
The Nigeria vs Madagascar match is scheduled for Friday, September 25, while the Guinea-Bissau fixture is on Tuesday, September 29.
Russia friendly comes after the qualifiers
Nigeria will also face Russia in an international friendly on October 6, but that match is being handled separately from the AFCON qualifiers. Chelle named a different squad for the Russia fixture, with a greater emphasis on younger players and other options outside the group selected for the competitive matches.
The Super Eagles' immediate priority, however, is the two AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria vs Madagascar match details
Competition: 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers
Group: L
Fixture: Nigeria vs Madagascar
Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
Kick-off: 4:00pm GMT / 5:00pm WAT
Venue: Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo
Nigeria coach: Éric Chelle
Madagascar coach: Corentin Martins
Nigeria captain: Wilfred Ndidi
CAF's official fixture list confirms the 4:00pm GMT kick-off. That converts to 5:00pm in Nigeria.
What to expect in Uyo
Nigeria begin the campaign without Osimhen, but Chelle still has a number of established attacking options, including Lookman, Chukwueze, Simon, Akor Adams and Tolu Arokodare, alongside the newly invited Ilenikhena and Usor.
Madagascar arrive early with an experienced core and the confidence of their recent continental performances.
For Nigeria, the task is straightforward in terms of the campaign structure: make the opening home fixture count before travelling to Guinea-Bissau four days later. The Super Eagles have not faced Madagascar since their 2019 AFCON group-stage defeat, making Friday's meeting the first encounter between the senior men's sides in more than seven years.
With Tanzania already guaranteed a place at AFCON 2027, every point in this three-way qualification race carries added importance.
Onyeka: Super Eagles must now focus on AFCON 2027
Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka says Nigeria must put the disappointment of missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup behind them and turn their attention to the next challenge.
With the World Cup qualification campaign now over, Nigeria's immediate priority is the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, beginning with Friday's clash against Madagascar in Uyo.
Onyeka's message comes as the Super Eagles begin another qualification campaign under head coach Éric Chelle, with Nigeria aiming to start Group L on a positive note.
How to watch Nigeria vs Madagascar live
The Nigeria vs Madagascar AFCON 2027 qualifier is scheduled for broadcast coverage through SuperSport in the African market. SuperSport is also carrying coverage and match information for the AFCON qualifying campaign.
Viewers should check their DStv or GOtv local listings for the specific SuperSport channel carrying the match on Friday, as channel assignments can vary.
The match is also listed internationally by broadcasters including beIN SPORTS in some territories.
For links and additional updates, match information, results and coverage of the Super Eagles, join the Victor Ademola WhatsApp Community.
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