Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Augustine Eguavoen, has warned the Super Eagles to be well-prepared for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, insisting the group is harder than the rankings suggest, Sporting Tribune reports.
The Super Eagles will compete in Group L alongside Madagascar, Tanzania, and Guinea-Bissau in the race to the 2027 AFCON.
On paper, Nigeria’s opponents rank well below them. The Eagles sit 26th in the world, while Madagascar are 104th, Tanzania is 113th, and Guinea-Bissau is 132nd.
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But Eguavoen, speaking in a recent report, refused to take that gap at face value.
“A lot of people think it’s an easy group, but I don’t think so.
“However, considering our pedigree and our performance at the last AFCON, where we did brilliantly well, I believe we can scale through. We just have to approach it one game at a time,” the ex-international said.
Guinea-Bissau gave Nigeria nightmares before Eguavoen had firsthand experience of what Guinea-Bissau can do.
He handled the Super Eagles when both nations clashed in the 2021 AFCON group stage in Cameroon, a game Nigeria won 2-0, but not before the Djurtus made them work for it.
The former K.V. Kortrijk defender also watched closely as the West Africans ran Jose Peseiro’s side close in the 2023 AFCON qualifying series, winning 1-0 in Abuja before Nigeria levelled the tie with a 1-0 win in the second leg.
“I remember Guinea-Bissau gave us a run for our money. They are not a bad side at all.
“When Jose Peseiro was in charge, it was also a very tight game, although we eventually overcame them,” the 1994 AFCON winner said.
He also flagged Tanzania, despite Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over the Taifa Stars in the 2025 AFCON group stage in Morocco.
The former Gent player recalled that Tanzania started that match on the front foot before the Eagles settled and eventually took control.
“Tanzania will also be stubborn opponents. We met them at the last AFCON, and they were tough in the first 15 to 20 minutes before we eventually came out on top.
“I still believe we will qualify, but it is going to be a very tough group,” Eguavoen, 60, who featured at the 1994 and 1998 World Cup finals, added.
Meanwhile, Nigeria will kick off the AFCON qualifying campaign with a home fixture against Madagascar on September 21, 2026.
