Madagascar national team, The Barea, have arrived in Uyo, ahead of the Super Eagles, their hosts in AFCON 2027 qualifier billed for the Nest of Champions, on Friday.
The coach Corentin Martins tutored side arrived Nigeria yesterday apparently to have full 4-days of shape up before the clash.
Madagascar qualified for the tournament just once, in 2019, when they made a stunning run to the quarterfinal. But they have failed to qualify for the subsequent editions of the tournament.
The Madagascar FA appointed coach Corentin Martins in January 2025, and one of his core targets is to qualify for the 2027 AFCON, an assignment which he is taking very seriously.
Coach Martins invited 24 players to camp for this fixture. Troyes goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher was one of the headline names on the list, but reports now indicate that he has been removed due to comments he made in 2018, when he denounced Madagascar and said he was only French.
The Barea are ranked 104th in the world while host Super Eagles are 26th in the world and 4th in Africa.
On paper some would say the Eagles will make mince meat of the visitors but exploits of Cape Verde at the last World Cup and the growing impact of lowly ranked countries at international tournaments has put an end to dismissal of teams based on FIFA ranking.
Madagascar
Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle will be without injured Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen who has since been replaced by Coventry striker Taiwo Awoniyi. Eagles will after the Madagascar match on Friday, jet out to face Guinea Bissau who are currently 132 in the world.
