Chelle Challenges Super Eagles to Start AFCON Qualifiers on the Front Foot

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has called on his players to hit the ground running as Nigeria begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

The three time African champions face a double header this month, starting with Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, before travelling to Bissau to take on Guinea-Bissau the following Tuesday.

Chelle says he wants his players to show intent right from the first game.

"We have to show everyone from Day One that we want it, and 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," he told thenff.com.

Nigeria's clash with Madagascar carries some history, with the two sides having met before at similar stages of qualifying campaigns in the past. Back in September 2010, the Super Eagles beat the Barea 2-0 in Calabar at the same point in that year's qualifying race. A year later, Nigeria repeated the result away in Antananarivo, winning 2-0 again.

That head to head record wasn't always in Nigeria's favour though. In June 2019, Madagascar pulled off one of the biggest shocks in AFCON history, beating Nigeria 2-0 in a group stage match in Alexandria.