Nigeria’s Super Eagles earned a 2‑1 victory over Madagascar in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on Friday, but the win left them second in Group L behind Guinea‑Bissau.
The Nigerians were forced to chase the game after Madagascar scored early, but they rallied to claim all three points, overturning the deficit to finish ahead of the island nation.
Guinea‑Bissau’s 2‑0 triumph over Tanzania earlier in the round kept them atop the group. Franculino Djú opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, and Mama Baldé doubled the lead in the 58th minute to secure the away win.
Nigeria’s next challenge comes on Tuesday when they travel to Conakry to face Guinea‑Bissau, a match that will determine which side leads Group L after the first round of fixtures.
The 2027 AFCON qualifiers feature twelve groups, with Group L comprising Nigeria, Madagascar, Guinea‑Bissau and Tanzania. Nigeria, three‑time African champions, will look to convert their early momentum into a top‑place finish as the campaign progresses.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
