Nigeria’s Super Eagles have received a major boost in their Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualification bid after Group L leaders Guinea-Bissau were held to a 1-1 draw by Madagascar on Thursday.
Guinea-Bissau had the chance to go nine points clear if they had beaten Madagascar twice but the draw changes everything as Guinea-Bissau remain in first place and now has seven points and Madagascar maintain third spot on two points. The Super Eagles are second on three points.
The Super Eagles now face Tanzania in Uyo on Friday, November 13 and a win will take them to six points – just one point behind Guinea-Bissau.
If the Super Eagles win both legs against Tanzania, they will go to nine points and could go top if Guinea-Bissau slip again on Tuesday when they host Madagascar again.
Also Read: 2027 AFCONQ: Super Eagles Warned Against Underrating Tanzania By Ex-Int’l Iroha
Tanzania are co-hosts of AFCON 2027 with Kenya and Uganda, so they are already qualified automatically. CAF rules state that only one other team from Group L qualifies.
So the Super Eagles are not competing against Tanzania – they are in a three-way race with Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar for that one ticket.
Guinea-Bissau beat Nigeria 3-0 in Bissau in September and hold the head-to-head advantage, so Nigeria cannot afford to finish level on points – they must finish outright top.
By James Agberebi
