The Super Eagles of Nigeria begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign this week, with a challenging Group L that includes Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau, and co-hosts Tanzania. Despite appearing to be a favorable pairing, the mathematics of Group L suggest otherwise. Nigeria's first match is against Madagascar in Abuja on September 25, followed by a trip to face Guinea-Bissau. The top two finishers in most groups advance to the 24-team finals, but Group L is an exception.
The exception in Group L is due to Tanzania being a co-host, which means their place at the tournament is already secured. As a result, only the highest-placed team among Nigeria, Madagascar, and Guinea-Bissau will take the group's single remaining ticket. This changes the dynamics of the campaign, as every point dropped against Tanzania still counts, even though Tanzania cannot be caught or overtaken for a qualifying spot. A Nigerian defeat to Tanzania would not affect their status but could give Madagascar or Guinea-Bissau an advantage.
Nigeria have six matches to secure their spot, spread across three international windows: September and October, November 9-17, and March 22-30, 2027. The team cannot afford another slow start, as seen in their World Cup campaign, which was undone by early draws with lower-ranked sides. NFF Technical Director Austin Eguavoen has warned that the group is more challenging than it seems, citing Madagascar's steady improvement and Guinea-Bissau's previous close encounters with Nigeria.
Head coach Éric Chelle has named a 24-man squad for the campaign, including Premier League regulars Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, and Frank Onyeka. However, Victor Osimhen, the reigning CAF Men's Player of the Year, is included in the squad despite a right upper abductor strain, leaving his availability for the opening matches uncertain. Ademola Lookman, who recently played for Atletico Madrid, has emphasized the need for urgency, stating that the team is looking forward to winning the matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
The cleanest path for Nigeria is to win both September fixtures, which would put them in a strong position ahead of the November window. A draw or slip in the opening window could turn November into a rescue mission, and the group could still be undecided heading into the final match days in March 2027. Nigeria have not missed an AFCON since 2017 and have reached at least the semi-final in each of the last four editions, but their margin for error is limited in Group L.
The Super Eagles players to watch in the 2026/27 season include established options like Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze, as well as uncapped forward George Ilenikhena. Tolu Arokodare is also an option, should Osimhen be unable to feature. The team's ambition remains high, with Lookman stating that they are looking forward to winning the matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria's campaign starts on September 25, and the team's performance in the opening window will be crucial in determining their chances of advancing to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. With a challenging group and limited margin for error, the Super Eagles will need to be at their best to secure a spot in the tournament.
Key points
- Nigeria's Super Eagles face a challenging Group L campaign, with their first match against Madagascar on September 25.
- The team's performance in the opening window will be crucial in determining their chances of advancing to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
- Nigeria cannot afford another slow start, as seen in their World Cup campaign, and must treat each match with urgency.
