By Amaechi Agbo
The Madagascar national team has arrived in Nigeria ahead of its opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against the Super Eagles on Friday.
The Barea, led by head coach Corentin Martins, touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja on Monday, September 21, ahead of the Group L encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Soccernet reports that members of the Madagascar delegation, including Martins, were spotted at the Lagos airport following their arrival in the country.
Both teams are expected to open camp and begin preparations for the important qualifying fixture.
Madagascar have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations only once, in 2019, when they surprisingly reached the quarter-finals.
They have, however, failed to qualify for the subsequent editions of the tournament.
The Madagascar Football Association appointed Martins as head coach in January 2025, with qualifying for the 2027 AFCON listed among his major objectives.
Martins invited 24 players for the encounter against Nigeria, with Troyes goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher initially among the notable names on the squad list.
However, Boucher has reportedly been removed from the squad following comments he made in 2018 in which he denounced Madagascar and stated that he was only French.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Eagles are also expected to open camp in Uyo this week.
Head coach Éric Chelle is expected to begin receiving his players from Monday afternoon, with most of the Nigeria-based players coming from European clubs where they featured over the weekend.
The Super Eagles will be without Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen for the fixture, leaving Chelle with Tolu Arokodare, Taiwo Awoniyi, Akor Adams, and George Ilenikhena as possible options in attack.
Madagascar are ranked 104th in the FIFA world rankings, according to the report, while a large part of their squad consists of players based in the lower divisions of European football and clubs in Africa.
Nigeria will face Madagascar on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
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