Five Madagascar stars Super Eagles must stop in AFCON qualifier

Nigeria will welcome Madagascar to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday in their opening game of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Super Eagles are overwhelming favourites to pick up a win, but they must be wary of underestimating the Barea to avoid a shock result.

Madagascar were victorious when both sides last met during the group stage of the 2019 AFCON, winning 2-0. They also possess several players who can still prove to be a thorn in Nigeria’s flesh this time around.

Soccernet.ng highlights five Madagascar players that Eric Chelle and his team must work on stopping when the two sides face off.

Five Madagascar players to watch against Nigeria

1. Thomas Fontaine

Experienced defender Thomas Fontaine remains one of Madagascar’s most experienced players and will be one of the players who could give the Super Eagles problems when they face off in this crucial qualifier on Friday.

The 35-year-old featured in Madagascar’s famous 2-0 win over Nigeria at the 2019 AFCON and produced a strong defensive display in that encounter. Fontaine will be hoping to put in another solid performance at the back and help his side produce another shock result against the Super Eagles.

Since making his international debut, he has been a strong presence in Madagascar’s defence and his experience could prove important against Nigeria.

2. Rayan Raveloson

Another Madagascar player the Super Eagles must look to stop is Amedspor midfielder Rayan Raveloson. His versatility allows him to play in a deeper midfield role, while his ability to play long passes forward could cause problems for Nigeria and disrupt their rhythm in midfield.

Raveloson’s passing range can also help Madagascar quickly turn defence into attack and put pressure on the Super Eagles’ backline.

His height makes him useful in aerial duels as well and his potential battle with Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka or whoever Eric Chelle selects in midfield could prove important in the encounter.

3. Hakim Abdallah

UTA Arad forward Hakim Abdallah is another player Eric Chelle must be looking to stop because of the threat he can pose against Nigeria.

While he can play as a striker, his ability to operate in a wider position makes him even more dangerous. Abdallah can move away from the central areas and drag defenders out of position, creating space for his teammates to exploit.

His work rate also makes him difficult to handle and defenders will have to remain alert whenever he is on the ball.

4. Loic Lapoussin

Another player Nigeria must be wary of is Loic Lapoussin, who carries a major threat from midfield and can cause problems when given enough space to operate.

Lapoussin is one of Madagascar’s main creative players and can play an important role in creating chances for his teammates.

The Nigerian defenders and midfielders must keep a close eye on him and avoid losing sight of his movement, especially in dangerous areas, as giving him too much time and space could allow him to create opportunities that could hurt the Super Eagles.

5. Warren Caddy

Warren Caddy brings a different kind of threat to Madagascar’s attack and is expected to play an important role when the two teams meet in Uyo.

The Randers forward has experience playing in Europe, although much of his career has come in the lower leagues. He remains an experienced player and one of Madagascar’s important attacking options.

Caddy scored his two international goals last September against the Central African Republic and Chad in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

His goalscoring ability and experience mean he carries a special threat that could cause problems for Nigeria’s defence if he is given the opportunity.

Chelle and his team must do well to limit the threat posed by these Madagascar players if they want to avoid losing their opening game, which would make their start to the qualifiers much more difficult.

A win, on the other hand, would give the Super Eagles an important boost ahead of their second game against Guinea-Bissau next week.