Debutants Ilhenikena and Usor Inspire Nigeria Comeback Win Over Madagascar

Posted : 26 September 2026

Nigeria opened their PAMOJA 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Uyo, with debutants George Ilhenikena and Moses Usor scoring the goals that overturned an early deficit.

The Super Eagles were forced to recover after Madagascar took a surprise lead in the 16th minute. Despite falling behind, Nigeria maintained pressure and eventually found a way back into the contest before completing the turnaround in the second half.

Ilhenikena was lively from the opening stages and nearly gave Nigeria an early advantage after just 70 seconds, but his acrobatic effort from Bruno Onyemaechi’s cross drifted wide. Samuel Chukwueze also looked to create an opening, sending a well-weighted pass towards Ademola Lookman that Madagascar goalkeeper Geordan Dupire collected.

Madagascar then struck against the run of play when Clement Couturier rose to head home from a pull-out. Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali appeared to believe the forward had been in an offside position, but the goal stood.

The hosts thought they had equalised in the 34th minute when Alex Iwobi found the net after Dupire failed to deal with another pull-out. However, the effort was ruled out because of an earlier foul.

Nigeria eventually restored parity in first-half stoppage time. Ilhenikena won possession near the edge of the penalty area before calmly finishing past Dupire to make it 1-1.

The forward almost completed the comeback moments later, but his header went over the crossbar as the Super Eagles finished the first half with renewed confidence.

Madagascar threatened again after the restart, with Nwabali making an important save in the 50th minute to keep the scores level.

Nigeria completed the turnaround in the 64th minute when another debutant, Usor, produced a decisive moment. The forward raced forward on a counter-attack, went beyond two defenders and created enough room to fire a powerful left-footed shot beyond Dupire.

The strike put Nigeria ahead for the first time and gave the hosts greater control of the match. The Super Eagles continued to search for a third goal, with substitute Tolu Arokodare coming close in the 72nd minute when his powerful effort struck the upright.

Madagascar survived the late pressure, but Nigeria held on for three important points to begin their qualifying campaign with a victory.

The match also marked a significant milestone for Moses Simon, who earned his 100th international appearance after coming on in the 58th minute. Simon was later presented with a framed Super Eagles shirt bearing his name by National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, NFF Acting General Secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Mr Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye.

Nigeria's victory moved them level with Guinea-Bissau at the top of the group after the Wild Dogs defeated Tanzania 2-0 in Dar es Salaam.

The Super Eagles will next travel to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau at the 24 September Stadium on Tuesday in an early top-of-the-table encounter. Madagascar will host Tanzania in the other group fixture as the PAMOJA 2027 qualifying race continues.

Debutants Ilhenikena and Usor Inspire Nigeria Comeback Win Over Madagascar

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