Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has challenged his players to make a strong start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign when Nigeria face Madagascar in Uyo on Friday.
The three-time African champions will open their Group L campaign against the Barea at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau next Tuesday.
Chelle wants his players to approach both fixtures with determination as Nigeria begin their bid to return to the AFCON finals.
“We have to show everyone from Day One that we want it,” Chelle told thenff.com. “The only way to do that is to go for it with our hearts and refuse to slow down at any point.
“We must go for the points without any hesitation.”
Friday’s clash will revive memories of Nigeria’s previous meetings with Madagascar, including two victories during the 2012 AFCON qualifying campaign.
The Super Eagles defeated the Barea 2-0 in Calabar in September 2010 before recording another 2-0 victory in Antananarivo a year later.
Madagascar, however, claimed a memorable 2-0 win over Nigeria in Alexandria in June 2019, one of the biggest upsets of that AFCON tournament.
Chelle will be hoping to avoid a repeat as Nigeria begin their latest qualification campaign on home soil.
