Super Eagles Coach, Eric Chelle, has celebrated his players, saying they deployed a great mindset against Madagascar when they clashed on Friday.
The Eagles came from a goal down to defeat Madagascar 2-1 in their Group L 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday evening.
Madagascar silenced the home crowd early when defender Ehsan Kari headed home from a corner kick in the 15th minute. Despite missing several scoring opportunities, Nigeria fought back and leveled the score in the 45th minute through debutant George Ilenikhena to head into the break at 1-1.
Chelle made tactical adjustments in the second half that paid off in the 74th minute, when another debutant, Moses Usor, scored the winner for Nigeria. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made a crucial late save in a one-on-one situation against Madagascar’s captain to preserve the lead until the final whistle.
Speaking after the match, Chelle expressed mixed feelings about his team’s display despite securing the victory. He noted that the Super Eagles started well but paid for missed chances when Madagascar scored.
“Technically, we weren’t very good, but I loved the state of mind of my players,” Chelle said. “They gave everything for the jersey and the country. I’m happy because this team wants to bring something new. We have another game in a few days, so we must work on our project and improve.”
Chelle also praised Nwabali’s vital late save and acknowledged that Madagascar put up a tough fight. He assured fans that the squad would continue to grow as new players integrate into the setup.
Winger Moses Simon, who earned his 100th cap for Nigeria during the match and was celebrated for the milestone, expressed gratitude to God, his coach, the media, and Nigerian fans for their support.
Madagascar Head Coach Corentin Martins, speaking through an interpreter, described the result as a hard pill to swallow.
“We had a chance to make it 2-1 but failed to take it,” Martins said. “Scoring from the corner kick was part of our plan, but when you play a tactical side like Nigeria, you must be at your best. Unfortunately, our best wasn’t enough today.”
Martins added that player fatigue in the second half prevented his team from holding onto their initial advantage.
Following the result, Guinea-Bissau leads Group L on goal difference with three points, followed by Nigeria in second place with three points. Tanzania sits third, while Madagascar remains at the bottom without a point.
