Nigeria have four matches remaining in their bid to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with the Super Eagles needing to recover from a difficult start to their Group L campaign.
Eric Chelle’s team have collected three points from two matches, following a 2-1 victory over Madagascar and a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in September.
The results leave Nigeria second in the standings, three points behind Guinea-Bissau.
With Tanzania already guaranteed a place at the tournament as co-hosts, the Super Eagles must finish above Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar to secure the group’s only available qualification ticket.
Nigeria will face Tanzania twice in November before completing their campaign against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in March 2027.
The remaining fixtures provide opportunities for the team to improve their position, but the results of other Group L matches will also matter.
Nigeria’s remaining AFCON 2027 qualifying fixtures
The Super Eagles have four matches left in the campaign.
| Match | Fixture | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Matchday 3 | Nigeria vs Tanzania | November 13, 2026 |
| Matchday 4 | Tanzania vs Nigeria | November 17, 2026 |
| Matchday 5 | Madagascar vs Nigeria | March 2027 |
| Matchday 6 | Nigeria vs Guinea-Bissau | March 2027 |
The first match against Tanzania will take place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Kick-off is scheduled for 5pm Nigerian time.
The return encounter will be played at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on November 17.
CAF has scheduled the final two qualifying rounds for the March 22–30, 2027 international window.
The exact dates and kick-off times for Nigeria’s March fixtures should be confirmed against CAF’s final match schedule before publication of a detailed viewing guide.
How many points can Nigeria still get?
Nigeria currently have three points from two matches.
With four games remaining, the Super Eagles can collect another 12 points.
That means their maximum possible total is 15 points.
Winning both Tanzania fixtures would move Nigeria to nine points before March.
The Super Eagles would then have an opportunity to add another six points against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
However, winning every remaining match would not automatically guarantee qualification without considering the results of the other teams.
Guinea-Bissau currently have six points and can reach a maximum of 18.
Madagascar have one point and can also improve their position significantly during the remaining fixtures.
The final outcome will depend on how the three non-host countries perform across the full campaign.
Why Nigeria’s November matches against Tanzania are crucial
Nigeria’s next two fixtures could have a major influence on the qualification race.
If the Super Eagles defeat Tanzania twice, they will finish November with nine points.
If they win one and draw the other, they will have seven.
One win and one defeat would leave them on six points.
Two draws would produce a total of five points.
These scenarios show why the November matches are important even though they will not necessarily determine qualification immediately.
Nigeria need to collect points while limiting the opportunities available to their rivals.
The matches will also provide Chelle with an opportunity to assess his squad before the final qualifying window.
How Guinea-Bissau could affect Nigeria’s chances
Guinea-Bissau currently lead Group L with six points.
They began the campaign by defeating Tanzania 2-0 before beating Nigeria 3-0.
Their next two matches are against Madagascar.
If Guinea-Bissau win both fixtures, they will reach 12 points before March.
Nigeria could still qualify, but their remaining matches would become more important.
If Guinea-Bissau drop points, the Super Eagles may have an opportunity to close the gap.
However, Madagascar could also benefit from positive results against the group leaders.
This means Nigeria cannot assess the qualification race solely by comparing their points with Guinea-Bissau’s.
All three non-host teams remain relevant to the outcome.
Why Nigeria vs Madagascar could become decisive
Nigeria will travel to Madagascar during the March 2027 international window.
The Super Eagles defeated Madagascar 2-1 in their first meeting in September.
However, the return fixture will present a different challenge because Nigeria will be playing away from home.
Madagascar may also have improved their position by the time the match takes place.
If the qualification race remains close, Nigeria could need a victory to stay ahead of Madagascar or reduce the gap to Guinea-Bissau.
The match may also become important for tie-breaking calculations if teams finish level on points.
Nigeria will therefore need to approach the fixture with the same seriousness as the encounters against Tanzania.
Could Nigeria vs Guinea-Bissau decide AFCON qualification?
Nigeria’s final scheduled Group L match is against Guinea-Bissau in March 2027.
The encounter could become decisive if the two countries remain close in the standings.
Guinea-Bissau won the first meeting 3-0, giving them an important advantage.
Nigeria will have an opportunity to respond when they host the return fixture.
However, the importance of the match will depend on results recorded before then.
If Guinea-Bissau establish an unassailable lead, the final encounter may no longer determine qualification.
If Nigeria close the gap, the fixture could carry significant consequences for both countries.
The Super Eagles must therefore avoid relying on the final match alone to rescue their campaign.
When and where will AFCON 2027 take place?
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The competition is scheduled to take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
CAF has confirmed that the three host nations qualify automatically.
The remaining teams must secure their places through the qualification campaign.
Nigeria, who have won the tournament three times, are seeking another appearance at Africa’s leading men’s international football competition.
According to CAF’s official qualification arrangements, only the highest-ranked non-host team will qualify from Group L.
For the Super Eagles, the immediate task is to secure strong results against Tanzania before turning attention to Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria can still qualify for AFCON 2027, but the remaining four matches leave little room for unnecessary mistakes.