The qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations got underway on Thursday with eight Match Day 1 games played across the continent, while Nigeria are set to open their campaign against Madagascar on Friday.
The Super Eagles will face Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo in Group L, with the match scheduled to kick off at 5pm Nigerian time.
Nigeria are in the group alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and co-hosts Tanzania, who have already secured a place at the 2027 AFCON finals.
As a result, only the highest-ranked team among Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau will claim the remaining qualification ticket from Group L.
Nigeria will travel to Guinea-Bissau for their second Group L fixture on Tuesday, while Madagascar will take on Tanzania.
Thursday’s results
Group C
Côte d’Ivoire 2-0 Ghana
Côte d’Ivoire began their qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Ghana. Malick Yalcouyé and Franck Kessié scored for the Elephants.
Group E
DR Congo 2-0 Equatorial Guinea
Chancel Mbemba put DR Congo ahead early before Yoane Wissa added a second goal in the second half.
Group E
Sierra Leone 2-3 Zimbabwe
Sierra Leone took a 2-0 lead into half-time after goals from Alie Conteh and Sallieu Tarawallie. Zimbabwe responded after the break, with Marshall Munetsi scoring twice and Tawanda Chirewa completing the comeback.
Group F
Mauritania 3-1 Central African Republic
Mauritania overcame a first-half setback to win 3-1. Aboubakary Koïta, Dawda Camara and Mamadou Diallo were on target for the hosts.
Group G
Namibia 1-0 Congo
Bethuel Muzeu scored in the 47th minute to give Namibia a narrow victory.
Group G
Cameroon 3-1 Comoros
David Roy Nyengue, Bryan Mbeumo and Daniel Namaso scored for Cameroon. Comoros briefly reduced the deficit with a free-kick goal but could not complete a comeback.
Group H
Tunisia 1-1 Uganda
Tunisia were held to a 1-1 draw by Uganda. Ali Arous gave the hosts the lead before Rogers Mato levelled for the visitors.
Group H
Libya 2-2 Botswana
Botswana surrendered a two-goal advantage as Libya fought back for a draw. Tumisang Orebonye scored twice for Botswana, while Maruwan Alhibeeshi and Ezoo El Mariamy, who converted a stoppage-time penalty, brought Libya level.
Friday’s fixtures
Group A: Niger v Lesotho, Morocco v Gabon
Group B: Malawi v South Sudan, Egypt v Angola
Group C: Gambia v Somalia
Group F: Burkina Faso v Benin
Group I: Togo v Burundi, Algeria v Zambia
Group J: Sudan v Ethiopia, Senegal v Mozambique
Group K: Rwanda v Liberia, Mali v Cape Verde
Group L: Tanzania v Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria v Madagascar
Match Day 1 will conclude on Saturday, with Kenya facing Eritrea and South Africa taking on Guinea.
Source: PUNCH
