Nigeria came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in their opening fixture of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Friday night.
The Super Eagles suffered an early setback when Madagascar took the lead through a header, silencing the home crowd at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Despite the shock start, Éric Chelle’s side responded well and gradually took control of the contest.
Debutant George Ilenikhena restored parity for the hosts before the break. The young forward marked his first appearance for the Super Eagles with a crucial goal.
Nigeria continued to press after the restart and got their reward when another debutant, Moses Usor, found the back of the net to complete the comeback.
The goal proved decisive as the three-time African champions held on for all three points.
The victory gives the Super Eagles a positive start to their AFCON qualifying campaign and boosts their hopes of securing a place at the tournament.
Nigeria will now shift attention to their next Group L fixture against Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday as Chelle’s men seek to build on their winning start.
