Nigeria take on Madagascar on Friday in the first round of matches in Group L of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
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Nigeria vs Madagascar
Friday 25 September, 17:00
Godswill Akpabio International Stadium
Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign starts on Friday when they welcome Madagascar to Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, and the Super Eagles will be eager to get off to a winning start.
Since the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Nigeria have shown their quality, including reaching the semi-finals of the 2025 AFCON before losing to Morocco on penalties, followed by beating Egypt on penalties to secure a bronze medal.
Eric Chelle, in charge since January 2025, will now be looking for his side to get their qualifying campaign off to a winning start, with their eyes on going all the way to ultimately becoming AFCON champions for the first time since 2013.
Madagascar, meanwhile, are hoping to improve upon back-to-back bottom-placed finishes in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying groups, having finished bottom of the standings in both 2023 and 2024.
In fact, the last time Madagascar appeared at the Africa Cup of Nations was back in 2019, when they finished top of a Group B which actually included the Super Eagles, who only managed a second-placed finish.
Their Group B meeting during that tournament was the last time these two sides met, and Madagascar will be looking to replicate that 2-0 triumph on Friday evening.
Team News
Nigeria will be without their talismanic forward Victor Osimhen after the striker pulled out of the squad as he continues to recover from a muscle issue, meaning Tolu Arokodare could start alongside Akor Adams in attack.
Atletico Madrid’s Ademola Lookman should take the attacking midfield role, with a familiar defence and midfield also likely to be fielded by Chelle.
Meanwhile, Rayan Raveloson, Marco Ilaimaharitra and Loic Lapoussin offer plenty of experience in the Madagascar squad, while Warren Caddy has also returned to the national team.
Zacharie Boucher was handed his first Madagascar call-up before being removed from the squad following the resurfacing of previous controversial comments about representing the country, meaning Geordan Dupire should remain in goal.
Nigeria Predicted XI: Nwabali; Aina, Bassey, Ajayi, Onyemaechi; Ndidi, Onyeka, Iwobi; Lookman; Adams, Arokodare
Madagascar Predicted XI: Dupire; Pelmard; Fontaine, Rabemanantsoa, Acapandie; Ilaimaharitra, Raveloson, Lapoussin; Caddy, Abdallah, Randrianantenaina
Bet9ja Tips
Nigeria may have lost during their last meeting with Madagascar at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, while they are also without their superstar forward Osimhen, but the Super Eagles remain the far superior side and should dominate the match and comfortably secure the victory. You can get odds for Nigeria to win of 1.23 with Bet9ja – 5SMVGKR
Although the absence of Osimhen will be a blow in the forward areas, with the likes of Lookman, Arokodare, Adams, Taiwo Awoniyo and several others still available for selection in the attacking areas, Nigeria should still have enough firepower to cause plenty of problems for Madagascar.
Given the hugely talented depth available in forward areas to Chelle, combined with Nigeria anticipated to control proceedings and create countless chances, we are predicting over 2.5 goals to be scored. You can get odds for over 2.5 goals to be scored of 1.78 with Be9tja – 5SMVLPR
Bet9ja Odds (at time of writing): Nigeria win: 1.23, Draw: 6.20, Madagascar win: 13.50
