Madagascar head coach Corentin Martins said his Barea side is “battle ready” ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Nigeria’s Super Eagles, scheduled for Friday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
The encounter marks the first meeting of Group L on matchday one, with the Super Eagles entering as overwhelming favourites based on their historic pedigree. Madagascar have managed only one win in five previous meetings with Nigeria, a victory that came during the group stage of the 2019 AFCON finals in Egypt.
“There’s a lot of motivation. We’re playing against a big African nation, with good players. We’ve prepared well, trying to recover from our long trip. We’re motivated to play well,” Martins told a press conference in Uyo on Thursday.
Martins emphasized that his squad has focused on preparation and recovery after a lengthy journey, aiming to secure a favourable result against the hosts.
The match is part of the early round of qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with both teams looking to start their campaigns strongly in the competition.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
