Kadiri Ikhana Urges Super Eagles to Use World Cup Failure as Motivation Against Madagascar

Former Nigeria defender Kadiri Ikhana wants the Super Eagles to use last year's failure to qualify for the World Cup, along with the ongoing changes in Nigerian football, as fuel heading into their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying opener against Madagascar on Friday.

The match takes place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, with Nigeria then facing a trickier assignment away to Guinea-Bissau four days later, on September 29 in Bissau.

Ikhana, who is 74 and runs the Kadiri Ikhana Football Academy in Auchinleck, Edo State, told Completesports.com on Tuesday that he has no doubt Nigeria have far more quality than Madagascar, but admitted the Guinea-Bissau game worries him a bit more.

"When you look at the quality of players available to the Super Eagles coach, Eric Sekou Chelle, you would come to the instant conclusion that the Super Eagles will stroll over Madagascar on Friday," said Ikhana, who led Enyimba to their historic CAF Champions League win in 2003.

"But where I have some concerns is the next game away to Guinea-Bissau on 29 September in Bissau," he continued. "If you ask me, I will say the Super Eagles should look back to the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals absence, and the reforms or what I can call 'revolution' currently going on in Nigerian football, as motivation."

He added that the players need to understand how much scrutiny they are under right now, given everything that has happened around the national team recently.

"They should understand that all eyes are on them in this new beginning. Everyone wants to see what lesson they have learnt from the events of the past months and what is still going on. This is a moment of test for them," he said.

Ikhana said this is the moment for the squad to prove themselves. "This is the time for them to show commitment, determination and focus. They cannot afford to slip up this time around. I have confidence they can overcome Madagascar. But that match against Guinea-Bissau, I think, will be a bit difficult," he said.

Nigeria, three time African champions having won the title in 1980, 1994 and 2013, are in Group L alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania. The 2027 AFCON will be co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, running from June 19 to July 17, 2027, with 24 teams taking part.