Udeze tells Nigeria to take all rivals seriously in AFCON 2027 qualifiers

Former Super Eagles player Ifeanyi Udeze has told Nigeria not to underestimate any team in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. He warned that being careless could cost them, especially after a rough 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Saturday PUNCH reports.

Nigeria is in Group L with Tanzania, Madagascar, and Guinea-Bissau. Many fans think this group is easy for the three-time African champions. But Udeze sees it differently.

"I am not surprised that Tanzania is already bragging. They have every right to do so because they are in our group. I just want the Super Eagles to take the games seriously and not underrate any team in our group," Udeze told Brila FM.

"We must play every team with our full strength, and the rest will be history. I wish the Super Eagles all the very best in the qualifying campaign."

Nigeria knows all three teams well. The Super Eagles beat Madagascar home and away during the 2012 AFCON qualifiers. They also shared points with Guinea-Bissau while competing for the 2023 finals in Ivory Coast. Guinea-Bissau won in Abuja, but Nigeria took three points in Bissau. Tanzania was in the same group as Nigeria for the 2017 AFCON. The teams drew in Dar es Salaam, but Nigeria won 1-0 in Uyo thanks to a long-range strike from Kelechi Iheanacho. However, Nigeria did not qualify for that tournament in Gabon. Recently, they faced Tanzania at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, winning 2-1 in the group stage.

The draw happened at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters. Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong helped with the draw. A total of 48 teams will fight for a spot in the finals, divided into 12 groups, with 24 teams qualifying.

One challenge for Nigeria is that Tanzania qualified automatically as co-hosts. This means only the group winners will move on to the finals from Group L. Normally, the top two teams from groups without a co-host would qualify.

Nigeria will start their campaign at home against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on September 23, 2026. The qualifiers will take place over three international windows, ending in March 2027.

The 2027 AFCON will run from June 19 to July 17. This tournament will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, marking the first time it is held across three countries.