Nigeria secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Madagascar in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. The Super Eagles came from behind to claim an important three points in Group L. Madagascar took the lead through Ehsan Kari in the 15th minute, but Nigeria responded with two goals from debutants George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor. The win marked a successful start to Nigeria's qualifying campaign.
The match got off to a rocky start for Nigeria as Kari's early goal put Madagascar ahead. The visitors' lead was a significant upset, given Nigeria's strong home record. However, the Super Eagles showed resilience and began to create scoring opportunities. Ilenikhena, one of the new faces in the team, equalized just before halftime with a crucial goal in first-half stoppage time. The 20-year-old forward, who plays for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, marked his senior international debut with a vital equalizer.
Ilenikhena's goal ensured the Super Eagles went into the break level at 1-1. Nigeria continued to press after the restart and completed the comeback in the 65th minute when another debutant, Usor, put the Super Eagles ahead for the first time. The LASK winger's goal capped an impressive introduction to international football for two of Nigeria's new invitees. The victory was a significant occasion for Moses Simon, who was in line to make his 100th senior appearance for Nigeria.
The Nigeria Football Federation had announced plans to honour Simon if he reached the milestone against Madagascar. However, the focus was on the team's performance, which was without Victor Osimhen due to a muscle injury. Taiwo Awoniyi was brought into the squad as his replacement. The match also brought back memories of Madagascar's famous 2-0 victory over Nigeria at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Madagascar, who reached the quarter-finals of the 2019 tournament, again showed their ability to trouble the Super Eagles. However, Ilenikhena and Usor's goals ultimately gave Nigeria coach Éric Chelle a winning start to his side's latest AFCON qualifying campaign. The victory gives Nigeria an important three points at the start of their Group L campaign.
Nigeria's next qualifying fixture is against Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, 29 September. The Super Eagles will look to build on their momentum and secure another win. The team's performance against Madagascar was a testament to the impact of new players and the team's ability to adapt to challenging situations.
The final score was Nigeria 2-1 Madagascar, with goals from Ehsan Kari (15'), George Ilenikhena (45+1'), and Moses Usor (65'). The win marked a successful start to Nigeria's AFCON qualifying campaign, and the team will look to continue their momentum in the next match.
Key points
- Debutants George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor scored crucial goals for Nigeria.
- Nigeria came from behind to defeat Madagascar 2-1.
- The win marked a successful start to Nigeria's Group L campaign.
