Football: Nigeria can still qualify for AFCON 2027
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Tribune Online
Nigeria remains in the race for AFCON 2027 despite a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau, which tops Group L with six points. In this group, only one ticket will be awarded among Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar, with Tanzania already qualified as co-host, according to Tribune Online.
Nigeria still has a chance to qualify for AFCON 2027, the Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, but its margin for error is almost nil. In Group L, the Super Eagles have three points after two matchdays, behind Guinea-Bissau (6 points), while Madagascar and Tanzania have one point each, according to Tribune Online.
Tanzania already being qualified as co-host, only one team among Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar will reach the final phase. Under the CAF qualification format, which divides 48 nations into 12 groups of four, only the first-placed team in each host group, excluding the host country, can qualify in groups that include a co-host. Nigeria was beaten 3-0 by Guinea-Bissau in Bissau on 29 September, after its 2-1 win over Madagascar in Uyo on 25 September.
The Super Eagles still have four matches left, the first two during the November international window. Austin Eguavoen, technical director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), described Madagascar as "another difficult opponent", warning that Nigeria’s track record would not be enough. Every point lost against Tanzania penalises Nigeria without helping Tanzania, which is already qualified.
