Madagascar coach blames fatigue after Nigeria’s 2-1 AFCON 2027 qualifier win
Madagascar head coach Corentin Martins explained that fatigue and inconsistency caused his team’s 2‑1 loss to Nigeria in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday in Uyo. Kari Eshan gave Madagascar an early lead, but debutants George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor scored for the Super Eagles to secure the victory. Speaking after the match, Martins said, “We played a game with Nigeria with good players. We also want to be tactical,” and added, “We were good with the ball in the first half; we went with the ball well, and in the second half, we were physically tired.” He also noted, “We made some moves to win the game, but we were not consistent throughout the game.” The win awards Nigeria three points in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers and underscores the impact of fresh talent. Martins acknowledged that the team’s tactical approach worked early, but physical conditioning let them down after the break. Looking ahead, Madagascar will need to improve fitness and squad depth to remain competitive against stronger opponents in the qualifiers. Will Nigeria’s young stars keep delivering surprise goals and build on this momentum, or must the Super Eagles lean on experience to handle the tougher matches still to come in the campaign? In the same report, the outlet also noted a recommended transfer of Eze to Manchester United, highlighted Ballon d’Or 2026 comments praising an unnamed winner, and covered NPFL analysis stating Rivers United have more quality than last season according to Finidi.