Super Eagles Begin 2027 AFCON Qualifying Campaign Against Madagascar as Chelle Reshapes Attack Without Osimhen

By Simpson Global Media News Desk

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Madagascar on Friday, September 25, with coach Éric Chelle preparing the team for its first competitive assignment since the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations while dealing with the confirmed absence of striker Victor Osimhen.

Nigeria will host Madagascar’s Barea at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in the opening Group L fixture. Kick-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. Nigerian time.

The match begins a short but important double-header for Nigeria. Four days after the Uyo encounter, the Super Eagles will travel to Guinea-Bissau for a second Group L fixture against the Djurtus at the 24 September Stadium in Bissau on September 29. The Nigeria Football Federation has described the two matches as an opportunity to collect points early in the qualifying campaign.

Chelle's squad has combined established internationals with several new faces, while the coach has had to adjust his attacking plans following Osimhen's injury. The Galatasaray striker was initially named in the 24-man squad but was subsequently ruled out of both September qualifiers after suffering a muscle strain in a Turkish league match.

The situation has opened space for other forwards, including Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare and first-time invitee George Ilenikhena.

The opening match will also carry a personal milestone for Simon. The Paris FC forward has 99 senior appearances for Nigeria and will be honoured by the NFF if he makes his 100th appearance against Madagascar.

For Nigeria, however, the immediate sporting task is the first Group L fixture.

A new qualifying campaign begins in Uyo

Nigeria enter the 2027 AFCON qualifying series after finishing third at the previous continental tournament in Morocco.

The 2027 edition will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Tanzania are already guaranteed a place as one of the co-hosts, leaving the other Group L participants — Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau — competing for the remaining qualification route from the section. CAF has noted that this structure gives the group's matches additional importance because only the highest-placed team among the non-host nations will advance.

The qualifying format makes every early result relevant.

Nigeria's opening two fixtures are against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, while Tanzania will face Guinea-Bissau on September 25 before travelling to Madagascar four days later. The Super Eagles then reverse their first two fixtures later in the qualifying schedule.

Chelle has therefore emphasised the importance of beginning the campaign with points rather than allowing pressure to accumulate later.

“We have to show everyone from Day One that we want it,” Chelle said through the NFF's official platform, adding that the team must pursue the points without hesitation.

The coach's comments reflect the experience of Nigeria's most recent World Cup qualifying campaign, in which the Super Eagles mounted a late challenge but ultimately failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The AFCON campaign is a separate competition, with a different qualification structure and different opponents, but the lessons from that campaign form part of the background to the team's current preparations.

Osimhen's absence changes the attacking picture

The most significant squad development before Friday's game has been the withdrawal of Osimhen.

The striker was originally included in Chelle's 24-man squad despite an injury sustained while playing for Galatasaray against Başakşehir in the Turkish league.

Osimhen was forced off in the 33rd minute of that match, and subsequent medical examinations identified a muscle strain and pain in his right thigh. The Nigeria Football Federation later confirmed that he would miss the September qualifiers while continuing his recovery.

His absence removes a player who has scored 35 goals in 52 appearances for the Super Eagles, according to CAF.

Chelle has responded by adding Taiwo Awoniyi to the group.

The coach also has several other attacking options available. Lookman, Chukwueze, Simon, Akor Adams, Arokodare and Ilenikhena are all part of the wider attacking group, giving the coaching staff different possibilities for how the front line can be organised.

The NFF said on September 23 that the attacking options available for the Madagascar match included Simon, Lookman, Chukwueze, Adams and Ilenikhena, among others.

Rather than replacing Osimhen with one player in an identical role, the team can use different combinations depending on the coach's tactical plan.

The absence also means that the players selected to lead the attack will carry a greater share of responsibility for converting chances and maintaining Nigeria's attacking threat.

That responsibility extends beyond the forwards.

Midfielders such as captain Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka will be important in controlling possession and supplying the attacking players, while defenders will be expected to help Nigeria maintain pressure without exposing the team to counterattacks.

Chelle blends experience with new faces

The squad announced for the September qualifiers contains several players who have been regulars with Nigeria in recent years.

Captain Ndidi remains a central figure in midfield, while goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey and Bright Osayi-Samuel, and midfielders Iwobi and Onyeka provide experience around the team.

Lookman and Chukwueze add established international attacking experience.

At the same time, Chelle has used the qualifying window to introduce younger or less experienced players.

Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, defenders Isaac James and Chibuike Nwaiwu, and forwards George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor are among the players receiving senior-team opportunities. CAF reported that Okonkwo, James and Ilenikhena were among the first senior call-ups in the current squad.

The selection is part of a broader attempt to maintain continuity while also expanding the number of players capable of competing for positions.

For the new players, the Madagascar fixture provides an opportunity to make their first senior-team appearances in a competitive environment rather than a friendly.

That distinction can be important for international development because competitive matches impose different demands in terms of pressure, tactical discipline and the consequences of mistakes.

Chelle will have to balance the need for immediate results with the longer-term process of building a squad capable of competing across an entire qualification campaign and, if successful, at the 2027 AFCON finals.

The return of key players

Nigeria will also have some familiar faces returning to the national setup.

Aina is back in the squad after previous international absences, while Nwabali is also available.

The NFF has described Aina and Benjamin Fredricks as returning options, with Awoniyi brought into the squad following Osimhen's forced absence.

The defensive group includes Bassey, Aina, Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi, Fredricks, Nwaiwu and James.

The availability of several defenders gives Chelle options in both central and wide areas.

The midfield is smaller, with Ndidi, Iwobi, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyeka listed in CAF's squad information, while the attacking department contains a mixture of experienced internationals and newcomers.

The team therefore enters the campaign with a familiar core but not an entirely settled lineup.

That is partly a consequence of injuries and availability, but it is also a normal feature of an international window, where coaches must manage players arriving from different clubs, leagues and competitive schedules.

Final preparations in Uyo

The Super Eagles have spent the week preparing in Akwa Ibom.

Players began arriving in camp from their respective clubs before the squad moved through its training programme. By September 22, 23 players had taken part in the team's early preparations, with Maduka Okoye the only invited player yet to join at that stage after receiving permission to attend to family and personal matters.

By Thursday, the team was holding its final training session ahead of the Madagascar match.

The session provided Chelle with an opportunity to make final tactical adjustments and assess the players available for selection. The coach and captain Ndidi also participated in the pre-match media activities before the final training session.

Madagascar have also completed their preparations in Uyo.

The Barea arrived in Akwa Ibom earlier in the week ahead of the fixture and have been training separately from the Nigerian team.

The visitors enter the match with their own recent continental experience. CAF noted that Madagascar reached the final of the recent African Nations Championship, providing the team with a competitive reference point ahead of the qualifying campaign.

That recent run is part of the context surrounding the fixture, even though the CHAN and AFCON competitions have different eligibility rules and squad compositions.

Madagascar's previous success against Nigeria

The Super Eagles have historical experience against Madagascar, including a notable defeat at the 2019 AFCON.

Madagascar defeated Nigeria 2-0 during the group stage of that tournament in Egypt.

The result remains part of the background to Friday's meeting, although both teams have changed personnel and coaching structures since then.

CAF and other previews have highlighted that previous encounter as evidence of Madagascar's ability to cause problems against Nigeria.

The Barea's objective in Uyo will be to begin their own qualification campaign with a positive result.

For Nigeria, the task will involve controlling the match while avoiding the kind of lapses that can allow an opponent to gain confidence.

The historical record does not determine the outcome of Friday's game, but it provides useful context for understanding why the Nigerian coaching staff will be preparing for a competitive fixture rather than assuming that home advantage will settle the contest.

Uyo provides a familiar setting

The Godswill Akpabio Stadium has become a significant venue for the Super Eagles.

The NFF notes that Nigeria used Uyo during successful qualification campaigns for the 2019 and 2025 AFCON tournaments.

The federation has therefore framed Friday's match as a return to a familiar environment as Nigeria begins another continental qualification process.

The stadium is expected to host a large crowd for the opening fixture.

The home setting gives Nigeria the opportunity to begin the campaign in front of supporters while placing responsibility on the team to manage the occasion.

The players will have to deal with the normal pressures associated with an opening competitive match, including the need to establish rhythm, maintain concentration and respond to the opponent's tactical approach.

The NFF has said arrangements have been concluded for the match and for the team's subsequent movement to Guinea-Bissau.

Moses Simon approaches a century

Friday's game could also become a landmark occasion for Moses Simon.

The 31-year-old forward currently has 99 senior appearances for Nigeria and 12 goals according to the NFF's latest figures.

He made his Super Eagles debut in March 2015.

Since then, Simon has represented Nigeria at four AFCON tournaments and has appeared in both competitive and friendly matches.

The NFF says he has played 64 competitive matches and 35 friendlies for the senior national team. He has also made 23 appearances at AFCON finals and played 22 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

If selected against Madagascar, Simon will become the latest Nigerian international to reach 100 senior appearances.

The NFF has already concluded arrangements to honour him if he reaches the milestone.

His international career has included important moments in Nigeria's qualifying history.

One of his early contributions came during the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign against Swaziland, now known as Eswatini. After Nigeria drew the first leg 0-0 in Mbabane, Simon scored directly from a free-kick in the return match in Port Harcourt as Nigeria won 2-0.

A century of appearances would place Simon among a relatively small group of Nigerian players to reach that mark.

The achievement, if completed on Friday, would occur during the opening match of another qualification campaign rather than in a ceremonial friendly.

A different attacking responsibility

With Osimhen unavailable, the tactical focus inevitably shifts toward the other forwards.

Lookman has become an important attacking figure for Nigeria and was included among the principal options for the qualifiers.

Chukwueze provides another wide attacking option, while Simon offers experience and versatility.

Akor Adams and Arokodare provide additional options in the forward positions, while Ilenikhena enters the senior squad for the first time.

The absence of Osimhen means the coaching staff must determine how best to distribute the attacking workload.

A central striker can play a different role from a wide forward, and the team's build-up may therefore look different depending on which combination Chelle selects.

The midfield will also have an important role in ensuring that Nigeria does not become overly dependent on individual attacking moments.

Ndidi and Iwobi bring considerable international experience, while Onyeka provides another midfield option.

The balance between controlling the game and creating attacking opportunities will be one of the tactical issues to watch.

Guinea-Bissau already on the horizon

Although Madagascar is the immediate opponent, Nigeria's schedule leaves little time for recovery.

The Super Eagles are due to travel to Guinea-Bissau for the second Group L match on September 29.

The NFF has said arrangements are already in place for the team's movement to Bissau following the Uyo game.

That means Chelle must manage the squad across two competitive matches in four days.

Player fitness, recovery and tactical adjustments will therefore be important.

The coach may also need to assess the condition of players who have recently returned from club commitments, particularly those who have travelled significant distances for international duty.

The second match will also take place away from home, introducing a different environment from Friday's Uyo fixture.

Nigeria's opening double-header therefore combines a home match with an away assignment in a short period.

The wider context after the World Cup setback

Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup remains part of the backdrop to the new AFCON campaign.

The Super Eagles had pushed to recover ground during the later stages of the World Cup qualifying process but did not secure a place at the tournament.

The AFCON campaign gives the team a separate competitive objective.

Nigeria have a strong history in the continental competition, having won the AFCON three times. The most recent title came in 2013.

The team reached the semi-finals at the 2025 AFCON and ultimately finished third.

That recent continental performance provides a reference point for the current squad while the coaching staff works to develop a new cycle.

The objective is not only to qualify but to build a team capable of competing effectively once the finals arrive.

Chelle's selection of younger players alongside established internationals indicates that squad development is taking place alongside immediate competitive requirements.

A separate Russia squad

Another feature of the current international window is that Chelle has named separate squads for the AFCON qualifiers and an international friendly against Russia.

Nigeria are scheduled to face Russia in Nizhny Novgorod on October 6.

The friendly squad contains a number of changes and includes players who are not part of the core group selected for the Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau matches.

The NFF and Nigerian media have reported that the separate selection is intended to give opportunities to additional players, including younger members of the national setup, after the competitive qualifiers.

The arrangement allows Chelle to focus his principal group on the AFCON qualification fixtures before introducing other players for the friendly.

For the immediate campaign, however, the priority remains the two Group L matches.

What Friday's match will test

The Madagascar fixture will test several aspects of the Super Eagles beyond their ability to score goals.

First is organisation.

The players have had limited time together compared with club teams, making clarity of roles particularly important.

Second is adaptation.

The absence of Osimhen means the attacking structure will have to function without one of the team's most established forwards.

Third is defensive concentration.

An opening qualifying match can become difficult if a team concedes an early goal or allows the opponent to settle into the game.

Fourth is squad depth.

With another match against Guinea-Bissau only four days later, Chelle will need to consider how players perform physically and tactically across the two fixtures.

Fifth is the integration of new players.

The likes of Okonkwo, James and Ilenikhena have entered a senior squad containing established internationals. Their ability to adapt to the team's tactical requirements will be part of the longer-term development process.

NFF seeks a strong start

The Nigeria Football Federation has publicly called for a winning start.

Acting NFF General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme said the federation expects the Super Eagles to pursue maximum points in the opening match and then focus on the Guinea-Bissau fixture.

The NFF has also said arrangements have been made to ensure the match and the subsequent team movement are handled smoothly.

Such statements reflect the importance placed on early qualification points.

However, the qualification campaign will consist of multiple fixtures, meaning Friday's result will be one part of a longer process.

Nigeria will have to maintain consistency across the remaining matches regardless of the outcome in Uyo.

The same applies to Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, who will be seeking points of their own.

Players to watch

Lookman enters the fixture as one of Nigeria's principal attacking options.

His ability to operate from wide positions or move into central areas gives Chelle tactical flexibility.

Chukwueze provides another attacking outlet and can contribute to the team's ability to stretch the opposition.

Simon brings both experience and the possibility of reaching his 100-cap landmark.

In midfield, Ndidi's role as captain places additional responsibility on him to help organise the team.

Iwobi is another experienced player who can contribute to progression from midfield into the final third.

At the back, Aina's return provides another experienced option, while Bassey and the other defenders will have responsibility for maintaining the team's defensive structure.

In goal, Chelle has Nwabali and Okoye available, alongside first-time senior call-up Okonkwo.

The competition for the starting goalkeeper position has been one of the selection questions surrounding the squad.

The NFF reported that both Okoye and Nwabali were in Uyo and available for selection.

Madagascar's challenge

Madagascar will not arrive in Uyo simply to make up the numbers.

The Barea have recent continental experience and have already demonstrated that they can compete against established African teams.

Their previous 2-0 victory over Nigeria at the 2019 AFCON remains the most prominent example of their ability to produce a result against the Super Eagles.

The current squad, however, is not identical to the team from that tournament, and the coaching environment has changed.

CAF reported that Madagascar coach Corentin Martins has included first-time international selections such as goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher and striker Roman Ferber, while Warren Caddy has returned to the squad.

The visitors will therefore also be combining established players with newer options.

The tactical contest in Uyo will determine how successfully each team manages those changes.

A qualification campaign built around six fixtures

With Tanzania already qualified as a host, Group L carries a distinctive structure.

Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau are effectively competing to finish above the other non-host nations.

That makes the six-match schedule particularly significant.

Nigeria's first two matches are at home against Madagascar and away against Guinea-Bissau.

Later fixtures will provide opportunities to correct mistakes, but early points can influence the pressure surrounding subsequent matches.

Chelle's stated preference is to collect points early rather than leave qualification calculations until the final stages.

The coach's emphasis is therefore on immediate performance rather than long-range calculations.

Beyond Friday

Regardless of the result against Madagascar, Nigeria's qualifying campaign will continue quickly.

The team will travel to Guinea-Bissau for the September 29 fixture before the October international friendly against Russia.

That sequence means the coaching staff will have to manage three different objectives in a short period: securing qualification points, maintaining player fitness and assessing additional squad members.

The AFCON qualifiers are the competitive priority.

The Russia fixture offers a different environment in which Chelle can examine players outside the main qualifying group.

For the national team, the broader task is to develop a squad capable of combining experience with new talent.

The immediate assignment

The Super Eagles' immediate assignment is straightforward: begin the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign against Madagascar at home.

The match comes without Osimhen, but with a group that includes several experienced internationals and a number of players seeking to establish themselves in the senior team.

Chelle has emphasised early points, while the NFF has highlighted Uyo's importance as a familiar setting for previous AFCON qualification campaigns.

The game also provides a possible milestone for Simon, who stands one appearance away from 100 senior caps for Nigeria.

Beyond the individual milestone, the match begins a new competitive cycle for the Super Eagles.

Nigeria will need to navigate the absence of one of its leading attackers, integrate new players, maintain defensive organisation and manage the demanding schedule that follows the opening fixture.

The first whistle at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium will therefore mark more than the start of another qualification match. It will begin Nigeria's route through Group L, with Guinea-Bissau already waiting four days later and the longer objective of reaching the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in East Africa.

For Chelle and his players, the opening chapter will be written in Uyo on Friday.