Nigeria opened their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a resilient 2-1 comeback triumph over Madagascar on Friday evening at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. The Super Eagles, competing in Group L, turned the tide after falling behind to secure a crucial three-point haul in their opening fixture. Debutants George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor proved instrumental in the turnaround, with both players finding the back of the net on their first appearances for the three-time African champions under the direction of manager Eric Chelle.
Madagascar stunned the home supporters by taking an early lead through Clement Couturier, who headed in Ryan Ponti's cross past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali in the 16th minute. However, Nigeria responded with characteristic attacking pressure, with Ilenikhena nearly breaking through on multiple occasions—first being denied by goalkeeper Geordan Dupire after a through ball from Calvin Bassey, then heading narrowly over the bar from a Samuel Chukwueze delivery. The hosts' persistent attacking finally yielded dividends when Ilenikhena tapped home from close range in first-half stoppage time, converting a brilliant pass from Alex Iwobi to restore parity heading into the interval.
Nigeria emerged from the break with renewed intensity and dominance. Following a series of blocked attempts and saved efforts from Ademola Lookman and Bassey, manager Chelle's tactical substitutions proved decisive. The introduction of Moses Usor for Chukwueze and centurion Moses Simon for Akor Adams shifted the momentum decisively in the hosts' favor. In the 65th minute, Usor delivered the match-winning moment, receiving possession from Semi Ajayi before driving forward, beating two defenders, cutting inside, and firing a precisely-placed left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner to give Nigeria their first lead of the evening.
Despite Madagascar's late attempts to find an equalizer, including Hakim Abdallah's blocked effort, Nigeria maintained their composure during the closing stages. Chelle made additional defensive adjustments, introducing Tolu Arokodare and Taiwo Awoniyi to shore up the backline as the visitors continued to probe for an unlikely comeback. The victory positions Nigeria at the top of Group L's early standings, though Guinea-Bissau opened their campaign with a 2-0 away victory over co-hosts Tanzania. The Super Eagles face a crucial away encounter against Guinea-Bissau in their next qualifying fixture.