Nigeria secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Madagascar in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. The win was far more convincing than the scoreline suggested, with the Super Eagles making a strong comeback after going behind. Madagascar's Clement Couturier stunned the hosts with a 16th-minute opener, but Nigeria's George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor scored goals on their senior debuts to rescue the team.
Ilenikhena, born in Lagos and raised in France, made his senior Nigeria debut and scored the equalizing goal just before half-time. His European pedigree, having made 51 appearances and scored 10 goals for Monaco, was evident in his performance. Ilenikhena's goal restored belief inside a tense Uyo stadium, and he became the second-youngest scorer for Nigeria in their qualifiers. The 20-year-old's first Super Eagles appearance ended with his first Nigeria goal at a crucial moment.
Calvin Bassey cemented his position as one of Africa's top defenders with a composed performance in the heart of Nigeria's defense. The Fulham centre-back was aggressive in duels and difficult to beat as Madagascar repeatedly looked for opportunities to exploit Nigeria. Bassey's display further underlined why he has become an important figure in the Super Eagles' defensive structure. His positioning, anticipation, and control were key to Nigeria's ability to deal with danger.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali answered questions surrounding his club situation with a crucial one-on-one save seven minutes into the second half. The save denied Madagascar a potentially devastating second goal and proved crucial as Nigeria completed their comeback. Nwabali's performance strengthened his claim to the starting shirt, and he is now competing with Maduka Okoye for the position. Having two goalkeepers capable of competing for the position can only increase the pressure for consistency.
Moses Usor's debut goal changed the game, with the LASK forward needing just four minutes to announce himself. Usor collected the ball inside his own half, powered away from two defenders, and smashed a left-footed finish into the near post to complete Nigeria's comeback. His club form had already made his call-up difficult to ignore, with 15 goals and 10 assists in 35 matches across all competitions for LASK last season.
The victory also provided a glimpse of life without Victor Osimhen, who was ruled out of both September fixtures due to a muscle strain. Nigeria found another route to goal, with two debutants providing the goals and Ademola Lookman repeatedly threatening the Madagascar defense. The performance showed that Nigeria can find goals from different areas of the squad, reflecting coach Finidi George's attempts to widen his options.
The win was more than three points for coach George, offering a first glimpse of what Nigeria can become with new faces stepping forward and established players answering questions. The Super Eagles had to withstand late pressure before finally securing the points, with Tolu Arokodare hitting the post in the 74th minute. The victory marked a significant start to Nigeria's qualification campaign, and the team will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches.
Key points
- Nigeria's Super Eagles defeated Madagascar 2-1 in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
- George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor scored goals on their senior debuts to rescue Nigeria.
- The victory provided a glimpse of life without Victor Osimhen and showed Nigeria's ability to find goals from different areas of the squad.
