Nigeria vs Madagascar: Chelle Demands Strong Start as Ndidi Says Super Eagles Must Set the Momentum

Nigeria head coach Éric Chelle has called on the Super Eagles to approach their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying opener against Madagascar with intensity, focus and ambition, insisting that the team must set the tone from the first day of the campaign.

Nigeria will face Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25, with kick-off scheduled for 5:00pm WAT. The match is the Super Eagles’ opening Group L fixture.

Group L carries additional significance because Tanzania, one of the three co-hosts of the 2027 AFCON, has already secured its place at the tournament. As a result, only the highest-ranked team among Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau will claim the remaining qualification spot from the group.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference in Uyo, Chelle acknowledged the pressure surrounding the fixture but said managing pressure was part of the job.

“This is our job to manage the pressure.”

The coach stressed that the immediate priority was to focus on the group and the team before turning attention to the wider expectations of the country.

“We have to be ready first for the group, for us, and after of course for the country. So there is a big game tomorrow,” he said, adding that the team would use its final training session to complete preparations.

Chelle: Nigeria must show who they are

Chelle was asked whether he considers his Nigeria team the best in Africa, given the team's unbeaten record in competitive fixtures since his appointment.

His response was emphatic.

“For me, of course, this is the best team in Africa and maybe this team has a good ranking in the world,” Chelle said.

Rather than focusing solely on results, the coach repeatedly highlighted the mentality and intensity he expects from his players.

“The first idea is to give a signal to everybody, every nation, who is Nigeria, who is that team,” he said.

According to Chelle, Nigeria's players have demonstrated a strong state of mind and understand what is expected of them.

“This is not a question to win or lose. This is a question of state of mind,” he added.

Chelle said he wants his players to approach the match with aggression and intensity, while acknowledging that the technical and tactical aspects of football will ultimately determine what happens on the pitch.

He also urged the team to move forward rather than dwell on previous disappointments.

“We have to go forward, to try to forget what happened last year, to go forward, to be ambitious at every moment, every training session, every game,” he said.

Nigeria's previous World Cup qualifying campaign ended without qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making the AFCON 2027 campaign another important competitive assignment for Chelle and his squad.

Chelle addresses Maduka Okoye's late arrival

One of the major talking points ahead of the match has been the late arrival of goalkeeper Maduka Okoye.

Chelle was asked to clarify why the Udinese goalkeeper had not joined the squad earlier.

The coach explained that Udinese had asked for Okoye to remain with the club for an activity.

“His club Udinese asked me to let him make some activities for the club. So, he was supposed to come before, but he is not here,” Chelle said.

The coach added that he would manage the situation and make the necessary decisions.

Okoye had been the only member of Nigeria's 24-man squad yet to arrive in camp before Thursday. Reports from the Super Eagles camp said he had permission to attend to a club commitment, while the goalkeeper subsequently arrived in Nigeria on Thursday.

Chelle confirms injury concerns

The coach also acknowledged injury concerns within the squad but insisted that Nigeria have enough players to cope.

“We have a lot of injuries,” Chelle said. “So this is not a problem for us. We have a group.”

Chelle said he would obviously prefer to have every player available but maintained that the squad must work with the players who are fit and ready.

He also warned against underestimating Madagascar.

“For sure it will be a difficult game because Madagascar, this is not a team. This is a big team,” Chelle said.

His warning is backed by recent history. Madagascar defeated Nigeria 2-0 at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, with Lalaina Nomenjanahary and Charles Andriamahitsinoro scoring for the Barea.

Chelle therefore expects a competitive encounter.

“It could be a fight. So, we are ready,” he said.

Ndidi: First game must set the momentum

Captain Wilfred Ndidi was also asked about the importance of starting the qualifying campaign strongly, particularly given Nigeria's difficult start to their previous World Cup qualifying campaign.

Ndidi acknowledged that experience but insisted that the current group is focused on avoiding a repeat.

“We know the experiences of the last World Cup, how we started was really, really poor, really bad, and it will never happen again,” the captain said.

For Ndidi, the opening match is particularly important because it can establish the momentum for the rest of the campaign.

“The first game is the most important game in every competition. This is qualifiers, but the first game sets the momentum,” he said.

According to the Super Eagles captain, a positive start would give Nigeria confidence heading into the remaining matches.

“So we think we will set the momentum. We're ready for it and everyone is focused for it,” Ndidi added.

Ndidi: Qualification is the only focus

The captain was also asked about the unusual structure of Group L, where Tanzania's automatic qualification as a co-host leaves Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau competing for one remaining qualification place.

Ndidi said Nigeria would not allow the structure of the group to distract them.

“For us, as a nation, the most important focus is us,” he said.

“We try as much as possible to get as many points as we can. It doesn't matter how many qualify, we want to qualify.”

That message reflects the immediate task facing Nigeria: begin the campaign strongly at home before travelling to Guinea-Bissau for the second Group L fixture on September 29.

With only one qualification place available to the three non-host nations in Group L, every point will carry added importance as Nigeria begin their road to the 2027 AFCON finals in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.