Sports stakeholders have expressed confidence in Nigeria’s chances as the Super Eagles prepare to open their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign against Madagascar in Uyo on Friday, September 25.
Key Highlights
- Super Eagles face Madagascar in their opening Group L qualifier at 5pm on Friday in Uyo.
- Falconets coach Moses Aduku said he hoped Nigeria would win convincingly.
- Sports journalist A. Oluwole Francis urged players to focus on football amid federation controversies.
- Sports enthusiast Dayo Awoniyi predicted a 3-0 Nigeria victory and said Maduka Okoye’s late arrival should not disrupt preparations.
- Nigeria are in Group L with Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania, who qualify automatically as co-hosts.
Aduku Backs Super Eagles to Win
The Super Eagles will face the Barea of Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo in their opening Group L fixture.
Moses Aduku, head coach of Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team, the Falconets, told The Trumpet in a telephone interview on Friday that he expected the Super Eagles to be properly prepared. Although he is not directly involved with the team’s camp, he said he hoped Nigeria would secure a convincing victory.
“My prayer is that Nigeria should win today convincingly,” Aduku said.
Francis Urges Players to Focus
Sports journalist A. Oluwole Francis also backed Nigeria to get a result, describing the opening qualifier as an opportunity for the Super Eagles to rebuild confidence.
Francis urged the players to put recent controversies surrounding Nigerian football administration aside and concentrate on their responsibilities on the pitch.
“The players should go out there and play their football. Forget about what happened in the Federation. They should go there and play their match and make the day happy again,” he said.
He said the players must show the commitment expected of those representing Nigeria, adding that the country’s football history and the expectations around the Super Eagles make focus especially important.
Awoniyi Predicts Three-Goal Win
Sports enthusiast Dayo Awoniyi expressed confidence in the squad, pointing to the quality of its players and their performances for their clubs. He acknowledged that football is not decided by individual quality on paper, but said current form had strengthened his optimism.
Awoniyi predicted that Nigeria could win by at least three goals to nil. He argued that administrative issues should not affect the players, who are professionals and have faced different challenges in their careers.
On goalkeeper Maduka Okoye’s late arrival in camp, Awoniyi said it should not become an excuse for a poor result. The Nigeria Football Federation included Okoye in the squad alongside Stanley Nwabali and newly invited Arthur Okonkwo.
Awoniyi said the coaching staff had other options and could decide whether Okoye was ready to start. He added that the goalkeeper’s delayed arrival was reportedly linked to circumstances communicated to the relevant authorities and should not disrupt preparations.
Ebochuo Also Expects Nigeria to Win
Another sports enthusiast, Bright Obinna Ebochuo, backed the Super Eagles to win but declined to predict the margin.
“I expect we should win. I don’t know what the margin will be, but we should win,” Ebochuo said.
Super Eagles Seek Strong Start in Group L
Nigeria head coach Éric Chelle has also called for a strong start to the qualifying campaign, saying the team needs to collect points early in the race. Nigeria are drawn in Group L with Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and co-hosts Tanzania. Tanzania qualify automatically as a tournament host, leaving Nigeria to seek a place through the group’s remaining qualification pathway.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 5pm on Friday. The Confederation of African Football’s Group L preview lists Nigeria’s meeting with Madagascar among the opening fixtures of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
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