Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Madagascar in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo was far more revealing than the scoreline suggested.
George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor, both making their senior Nigeria debuts, delivered the goals that rescued the Super Eagles after Clement Couturier had stunned the hosts with Madagascar’s 16th-minute opener.
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Nigeria were made to sweat for the three points. Alex Iwobi thought he had levelled the contest, only for his effort to be ruled out after Akor Adams was penalised for a foul on the goalkeeper. The pressure continued to build before Ilenikhena struck just before half-time to restore belief inside a tense Uyo stadium.
The second half brought another twist, as Stanley Nwabali produced a crucial one-on-one save seven minutes after the restart before Chelle turned to his bench. Moses Simon came on for his 100th Nigeria appearance, while Usor entered for his senior debut.
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The LASK forward needed just four minutes to announce himself.
After Oluwasemilogo Ajayi cleared a Madagascar corner, Usor collected the ball inside his own half, powered away from two defenders and smashed a left-footed finish into the near post to complete Nigeria’s comeback.
Tolu Arokodare later struck the post in the 74th minute, while Nigeria had to withstand late pressure before finally securing the points.
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For Chelle, the victory was more than three points. It offered a first glimpse of what Nigeria can become with new faces stepping forward, established players answering questions and a squad beginning to discover different ways to win.
PREMIUM TIMES looks at six major takeaways from Nigeria’s comeback victory
Ilenikhena delivers the dream debut
There was more than just a goal behind Ilenikhena’s equaliser.
Born in Lagos and raised in France from the age of three, the striker was eligible to represent both countries and spent months considering his international future before ultimately committing himself to Nigeria.
Chelle rewarded that decision with a senior call-up, and Ilenikhena wasted little time repaying the faith.
His first Super Eagles appearance ended with his first Nigeria goal, arriving at perhaps the most important moment of the night; seconds before half-time, when Madagascar appeared set to take their shock advantage into the dressing room.
His European pedigree had already provided plenty of evidence of his potential.
Ilenikhena made 51 appearances and scored 10 goals during his two seasons with Monaco, including a memorable Champions League winner against Barcelona.
Now, he has his first senior international goal to add to the collection.
Bassey cements his position as one of Africa’s standards bearer in defense
Calvin Bassey looked every inch the defender Nigeria needed when Madagascar tested the Super Eagles.
The Fulham centre-back was composed in possession, aggressive in duels and difficult to beat as the visitors repeatedly looked for opportunities to exploit Nigeria.
His performance was built less on spectacular tackles and more on positioning, anticipation and control.
Against a Madagascar side willing to absorb pressure and attack on the counter, Bassey consistently showed the authority to deal with danger before it became a bigger problem.
His Uyo performance further underlined why he has become such an important figure in the Super Eagles’ defensive structure.
Nwabali answers the repeated questions surrounding Nigeria’s No.1 spot
Stanley Nwabali entered the qualifier with questions surrounding his club situation, but there was little sign of rust when Nigeria needed him most.
The goalkeeper left Chippa United in February after requesting his release and subsequently spent months without a club before returning to the South African side in July.
Against Madagascar, however, the goalkeeper looked ever ready. Seven minutes into the second half, Nwabali stood tall in a one-on-one situation and denied the visitors what could have been a potentially devastating second goal.
That intervention proved crucial as Nigeria went on to complete their comeback.
Maduka Okoye has also featured for Nigeria this year, starting against Iran, Poland and Portugal, although the Udinese goalkeeper arrived late to camp this time around because of club commitments.
Okoye eventually arrived on Friday, but Nwabali’s latest performance has strengthened his claim to the starting shirt.
For the Super Eagles, having two goalkeepers capable of competing for the position can only increase the pressure for consistency.
Usor and Chukwueze’s battle for minutes upcoming?
Samuel Chukwueze gave Madagascar plenty to think about before making way. The winger’s direct running caused problems and he was one of Nigeria’s more dangerous attacking outlets during the opening half.
Then Usor arrived and changed the game, introduced alongside Moses Simon around the hour mark, the LASK forward needed just four minutes to turn his senior debut into another headline.
His goal had everything: strength to escape two defenders, acceleration to carry the ball from inside Nigeria’s half and the composure to drill a left-footed finish into the near post.
Usor’s club form had already made his call-up difficult to ignore. He produced 15 goals and 10 assists in 35 matches across all competitions for LASK last season, helping the Austrian club complete a league and cup double.
He also scored and provided an assist in LASK’s remarkable Champions League comeback against Celtic in August.
One debut does not settle Nigeria’s winger hierarchy, but Usor has certainly forced his way into the conversation. For Chelle, it means another dangerous attacking option from the bench, and more competition for Chukwueze and the other wide players.
Nigeria finally gets a glimpse of life without Osimhen
Victor Osimhen’s absence was always going to dominate the conversation around Nigeria’s opening qualifier.
The Galatasaray striker was ruled out of both September fixtures after suffering a muscle strain in his right thigh against Başakşehir, leaving Chelle without a forward who has scored 35 goals in 52 appearances for the Super Eagles.
Nigeria, however, found another route to goal; two debutants provided the goals as Ilenikhena levelled the contest before Usor completed the comeback. Arokodare also hit the post, while Ademola Lookman repeatedly threatened the Madagascar defence.
The performance certainly does not diminish Osimhen’s importance to the team, but it gave Chelle something equally valuable; evidence that Nigeria can find goals from different areas of the squad.
It also reflects the coach’s attempts to widen his options, as Chelle handed first senior call-ups to Ilenikhena, Isaac James and Arthur Okonkwo in September, while Usor joined the group after Femi Azeez’s injury.
For a team preparing for a demanding qualification campaign, that depth could prove significant.
Nigeria is learning to win the hard way again
Madagascar arrived in Uyo with a clear plan: defend compactly, frustrate Nigeria and attack when opportunities emerged.
For much of the first half, it worked, as the Barea took an early lead through Couturier and made life uncomfortable for the Super Eagles, forcing Nigeria to work for every opening.
READ ALSO: AFCON Qualifiers: Chelle reflects on Madagascar win, warns Eagles ahead of Guinea-Bissau clash
But Chelle’s side gradually found a way back into the contest, as Ilenikhena’s equaliser changed the mood before Nigeria’s second-half substitutions added fresh energy to the attack.
Nwabali’s crucial intervention prevented Madagascar from restoring their advantage, while Usor’s goal completed a comeback that showed Nigeria could navigate a difficult match without everything falling into place.
It was not a flawless performance, but it was a victory built on resilience. And that may be one of the most important lessons from the night.
The bigger picture
Nigeria may have escaped Uyo with three points, but the real value of the night could lie in what Chelle discovered along the way.
Ilenikhena chose Nigeria and immediately delivered. Usor arrived for his first senior appearance and changed the game. Nwabali responded when the Super Eagles needed him, Bassey provided calm at the back, while the team found a way to win without Osimhen.
Those are significant pieces for a coach trying to build a squad capable of navigating a long qualification campaign.
But there is no time to admire the comeback.
Guinea-Bissau await in Morocco on Tuesday, and the pressure rises immediately. With co-hosts Tanzania already guaranteed a place at AFCON 2027, only the highest-ranked non-host nation in Group L will secure the remaining qualification ticket.
Nigeria have made a winning start; now Chelle’s new-look Super Eagles must prove they can turn that promising opening into momentum.
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