Nigeria secured a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in their opening match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, recovering from an early deficit to claim full points at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
The Super Eagles found themselves trailing after conceding an early header, a goal that caught fans and players alike by surprise. Despite the shock of the early setback, the team managed to regroup and level the score before the break.
George Ihenikane, making his debut for the national side, scored the equalizer to restore balance to the match. His goal set the stage for a decisive second-half performance that would ultimately secure the win for the three-time African champions.
Moses Usor, also a debutant, provided the winning goal shortly after the restart, ensuring that manager Eric Chelle’s side took maximum points from the fixture. The contributions of the two new faces were pivotal in turning the game around against Madagascar.
With this result, Nigeria moves on to their next qualifying encounter, where they are scheduled to face Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday. The Super Eagles will look to build on their momentum from the comeback victory as they continue their campaign for the 2027 tournament.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
