Super Eagles fight for AFCON 2027 qualification
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Nigeria must beat Tanzania in Uyo to revive its qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, in a group where only one qualifying place remains available. The match is scheduled for Friday, according to Punch.
Nigeria won one of its first two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 qualifying matches and lost the other before hosting Tanzania in Uyo on Friday. The Super Eagles have recorded just one win in their last five international matches, with two draws and two defeats, and have conceded at least one goal in each of those five matches, Punch reports.
Nigeria coach Eric Chelle is calling for six points from the two matches against Tanzania to strengthen Nigeria’s chances of qualifying. The return match is scheduled for Dar es Salaam four days after the Uyo game. Tanzania have already qualified for AFCON 2027 as co-hosts with Kenya and Uganda.
The Taifa Stars have never beaten Nigeria in eight meetings, with five defeats and three draws. Their last meeting was at AFCON 2025 in Morocco, which Nigeria won 2-1, notably thanks to Ademola Lookman. Tanzania coach Miguel Gamondi is expected to use the two matches to prepare his team ahead of the home tournament, according to Punch.
Nigeria’s preparations had notably been marked on 12 November by Stanley Okpala and Victor Obafemi calling for two wins against Tanzania, a demand for two victories that came on the eve of the first match of the two-game tie.
