The Super Eagles of Nigeria began their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on a winning note, securing a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory against Madagascar. The thrilling encounter took place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Thursday, seeing two debutants emerge as goal-scoring heroes for the national team.
Early Setback and First Half Equalizer
Madagascar stunned the home crowd by taking an early lead in the 18th minute. Ehsan Kari found the back of the net, putting the visitors ahead and challenging Nigeria to respond. The Super Eagles, however, showed resilience, pushing for an equalizer before the break.
Their efforts paid off deep into first-half stoppage time when George Ilenikhena, making his senior debut for the Super Eagles, scored a crucial goal. His debut strike leveled the score, providing a much-needed boost of confidence heading into halftime.
Second Half Turnaround and Debutant Brilliance
The momentum continued into the second half for Nigeria. The complete turnaround came in the 65th minute, courtesy of another Super Eagles debutant, Michael Usor. Usor unleashed a brilliant effort that found the net, putting the home side in front for the first time in the match. The Super Eagles expertly managed the remainder of the game, holding on to their lead to secure all three points.
The fact that both of Nigeria’s goals came from players making their national team debuts underscores the effectiveness of head coach Eric Chelle’s talent identification process. The Malian tactician has been praised for casting a wide net in his search for new talents, aiming to add depth and healthy competition to the Nigerian squad.
Group L Standings and Next Challenges
Despite the opening victory, Nigeria does not currently lead Group L. Guinea-Bissau, who defeated co-hosts Tanzania 2-0 in their own opening fixture, sit atop the group standings on goal difference. With only one team guaranteed to advance from the group, the Super Eagles will need to address this deficit when they travel to face Guinea-Bissau in their second qualifier.
Elsewhere in the group, Tanzania and Madagascar are set to face each other in the other Matchday two fixture, with both nations keen to recover from their initial defeats.
Moses Simon Reaches Centurion Milestone
In a significant individual achievement, veteran winger Moses Simon joined an elite group of Super Eagles players by earning his 100th cap for Nigeria during the match against Madagascar. The Paris FC forward came off the bench in the second half of the 2-1 win, becoming the fifth player in Super Eagles history to reach the century mark for appearances.