{
  "id": 4890225,
  "title": "2027 AFCON qualifiers: Super Eagles to face Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau in September",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/2027-afcon-qualifiers-super-eagles-to-face-madagascar-guinea-bissau-4890225",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T16:16:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/2027-afcon-qualifiers-super-eagles-to-face-madagascar-guinea-bissau-in-september/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Nigeria Football Federation has announced the first two matches for Nigeria's Super Eagles in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The team will take on Madagascar in their opening match on September 23, 2026, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. In their second qualifier, Nigeria will face Guinea-Bissau on September 27, 2026, during their trip to Morocco. These matches are part of the opening two days of qualifiers, with Nigeria placed in Group L alongside Madagascar, Tanzania, and Guinea-Bissau. The 2027 AFCON will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17, 2027. The Super Eagles aim to secure their spot in the tournament after being eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The qualifiers will be played on a home-and-away basis, with six matches scheduled for each group. Tanzania, one of the co-hosts, has automatic qualification as a host, leaving only the highest-ranked team from the other groups to qualify.",
  "summary": "The Super Eagles begin their 2027 AFCON qualifiers this September, facing Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. Get details on Nigeria’s path to the tournament. Read More: https://punchng.com/2027-afcon-qualifiers-super-eagles-to-face-madagascar-guinea-bissau-in-september/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "AFCON 2027Q: Dates for Super Eagles’ clashes with Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau confirmed",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/afcon-2027q-dates-for-super-eagles-clashes-with-madagascar-guinea",
        "published": "2026-09-01T14:51:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "2027 AFCON qualifiers: Super Eagles to face Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau in September",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/2027-afcon-qualifiers-super-eagles-to-face-madagascar-guinea-bissau",
        "published": "2026-09-01T16:04:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}