2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Tinubu Aide Warns Super Eagles Against Complacency

The Senior Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Grassroots Sports Development, Prince Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, has urged the Super Eagles to avoid complacency and make a strong start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Nigeria will begin their Group L campaign against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, popularly known as the Nest of Champions, on Friday, September 25.

The Super Eagles will then travel to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau in their second qualifying fixture a few days later.

Adeboye urged head coach Éric Chelle and his players to approach both matches with maximum concentration, warning against a repeat of the lapses that contributed to Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“My advice is that the Super Eagles should avoid complacency, be patriotic and take all the qualifying matches seriously so as to avoid a repeat performance of what happened during the last World Cup qualifiers,” Adeboye said.

He also urged the players to justify the support provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Nigerian athletes and sportsmen and women.

“I want the Super Eagles to remember that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not taken the welfare of sportsmen and women for granted. He has always supported them financially, morally and psychologically, and as such, they should reciprocate that gesture by not disappointing Nigerians,” he added.

Adeboye cautioned the three-time African champions against underestimating Madagascar despite the Barea’s relatively low FIFA ranking.

He noted that the side, coached by Corentin Martins, have made significant progress and would be determined to return to the AFCON after missing the previous edition in Morocco.

“Though they are ranked lowly by FIFA, the team, having missed the last edition in Morocco, will not take anything for granted this time around,” he said.

Adeboye also reminded the Super Eagles of Madagascar’s impressive run at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, where they reached the quarter-finals and defeated Nigeria 2-0 in the group stage.

“The Super Eagles must put in their best both in Uyo and in their next game against Guinea-Bissau,” he said.