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Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle and members of his technical staff have arrived in Uyo ahead of Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture.
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The Nigerian team will face Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on September 25 before travelling to Guinea-Bissau.
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Social media footage showed Chelle and members of his backroom staff arriving as preparations begin for the crucial international window.
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Nigeria’s 24-man squad includes key players such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi.
September 21, (THEWILL) – Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle and members of his backroom staff have arrived in Uyo as Nigeria begins preparations for its opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.
Footage shared on social media on Monday showed the Franco-Malian coach arriving at the airport alongside members of his technical team, signalling the start of Nigeria’s preparations for the upcoming international assignments.
Chelle’s arrival comes ahead of the Super Eagles’ Group L qualifying fixture against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25. Nigeria will then travel to face Guinea-Bissau in the second match of the qualifying campaign on September 29.
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The Nigerian Football Federation has selected a 24-man squad for the two matches, combining experienced internationals with players receiving opportunities to strengthen their positions in the national team.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon are among the established players included in the squad. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has also returned to the team, while Arthur Okonkwo, Isaac James and George Ilenikhena have been handed senior opportunities.
Chelle Faces Early Qualifying Test
The September fixtures represent an important stage in Nigeria’s pursuit of qualification for the 2027 AFCON tournament, which will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Chelle will be expected to guide the Super Eagles towards a positive start against Madagascar before managing the short turnaround ahead of the trip to Guinea-Bissau. The four-day gap between the two fixtures could place additional demands on the squad, particularly with players arriving from different leagues and clubs.
Nigeria’s first assignment against Madagascar will take place in front of a home crowd in Uyo, where the team will look to secure maximum points before travelling for the second fixture.
With the coaching staff now arriving and players expected to join camp, attention will turn to training sessions, squad fitness and Chelle’s tactical plans for the two matches.
The Super Eagles will be aiming to begin their qualifying campaign strongly after Nigeria missed out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The opening fixture against Madagascar will provide Chelle with an opportunity to set the tone for the team’s journey towards the next continental championship.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
