Former Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze has urged Nigeria not to take any opponent lightly in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, warning that complacency could prove costly after the team’s troubled 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Saturday PUNCH reports.
Nigeria were drawn in Group L alongside Tanzania, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, a group many supporters consider manageable for the three-time African champions. Udeze, however, is taking no such view.
“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.”
None of the three opponents are unfamiliar to Nigeria. The Super Eagles beat Madagascar home and away during the 2012 AFCON qualifying series and shared honours with Guinea-Bissau in the race to the 2023 finals in Ivory Coast — Guinea-Bissau winning in Abuja before Nigeria claimed three points in Bissau. Tanzania were in the same qualifying group as Nigeria for the 2017 AFCON, with the sides drawing in Dar es Salaam before Nigeria won 1-0 in Uyo through a Kelechi Iheanacho long-range strike, though Nigeria still failed to qualify for that tournament in Gabon. More recently, the two sides met at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, with Nigeria winning 2-1 in the group stage. Related News Onuachu double fires Trabzonspor to Turkish Cup glory Plymouth striker Oseni shocked by Nigeria call-up FIFA confirm Unity Cup as Tier 1 event
