Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has shared his thoughts on Nigeria's group stage draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The draw took place in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, with former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong serving as one of the draw assistants.
Super Eagles Drawn in Group L
Nigeria were placed in Group L alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau, and one of the tournament co-hosts, Tanzania. The qualification matches will be played during international windows in 2026 and March 2027 to determine the participants for AFCON 2027.
Chelle's Reaction to the Draw
Eric Chelle analyzed each team in Group L and admitted that every opponent is capable of causing problems for the three-time African champions. He noted that Tanzania have already qualified for AFCON as co-hosts, making the group essentially a three-team race. He said, "Tanzania may give us problems, just as they did against Morocco, so this is not a small team."
Regarding Madagascar, Chelle recalled their 2019 victory over Nigeria, stating, "Madagascar, we know them as a good team because they beat Nigeria in 2019." He also warned against underestimating Guinea-Bissau, emphasizing that there are no small teams in African football anymore.
The manager stressed the need for focus and hard work in every match. "You have to be focused on every game and every team. You have to do the job; this is not easy. Which game is easy in football right now?" he concluded.
Upcoming Matches for Nigeria
The Super Eagles camp has opened in London for the 2026 Unity Cup, a four-nation tournament featuring India, Zimbabwe, and Jamaica. Nigeria will face Zimbabwe in their first match. They also have high-profile friendlies against Poland and Portugal in June, but will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup after failing to qualify.
Troost-Ekong's Message
William Troost-Ekong, who assisted in the draw, sent a message to the Super Eagles, acknowledging the difficulty of the group but expressing confidence in the team's ability to qualify.
