Nigeria’s qualifiers live on SuperSport

As Nigeria begin the journey to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with the qualifier against Madagascar in Uyo today, former Super Eagles midfielder Mutiu Adepoju has advised the players to put behind them all past disappointments and focus on the present assignment.

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for two FIFA World Cup competitions, Qatar 2022 and the 2026 edition co-hosted by Mexico, USA and Canada. The team also could not reach the final of the last AFCON hosted in Morocco.

For Adepoju, also known as Headmaster in his playing days, what should be important to the Eagles now are the two matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

Speaking with The Guardian during the inspection tour of stadiums in Lagos, Adepoju said: “It is very important for the players and their technical crew to put behind them all the negatives that cropped up after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and focus on these two matches.

“I am sure the players still remember what happened with the World Cup, but they now have another opportunity to make Nigerians proud by qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations,” Adepoju said.

He also urged the players to prove they have enough quality to cope in the absence of Galatasaray’s striker Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen will miss Nigeria’s fixtures against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau after failing to recover in time from a muscle injury, leaving head coach Eric Chelle without one of his key attacking options.

Adepoju admitted that Osimhen is an important player for the team but stressed that his absence should not affect the Eagles’ approach against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

He said: “It is sad that Osimhen will not be available because everybody knows his quality and what he brings to the team, but the Super Eagles have other quality players who can do the job. His absence should not be an excuse,” he said.

Adepoju, one of the few Nigerian footballers to feature for the Spanish giant, Real Madrid FC, further stated that these two AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau present an opportunity for other Nigerian players to take responsibility and contribute to the Super Eagles campaign ahead of the 2027 showdown.

In Osimhen’s absence, head coach Eric Chelle will have to find the right attacking combination in the two matches.

Nigeria will face Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo today, September 25, before travelling to Bissau to take on Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, September 29.

Both matches will air live on SuperSport, with Nigeria vs Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria available on SS La Liga (DStv Ch. 204) and SS Pop-up (GOtv Ch. 59) for DStv Access and GOtv Value subscribers.