Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman has declared that Nigeria are targeting six points from their opening two matches of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Nigeria will begin their Group L campaign against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on September 25 before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau four days later.
Lookman acknowledged the difficulty of the fixtures but said the Super Eagles are determined to make a strong start to their qualifying campaign.
Two very important matches are coming up, and the opponents are, of course, tough to face,” Lookman told SportyTV.
But we’re eager to win both of these games. We know the matches will be difficult, but we’ll do everything we can to achieve it.”
The opening fixtures carry added importance for Nigeria because of the unusual structure of Group L. Tanzania, who are among the hosts of the 2027 AFCON alongside Kenya and Uganda, already have a guaranteed place at the tournament.
Consequently, Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau will compete for the remaining qualifying spot from the group, making every point potentially significant.
For the Super Eagles, the campaign also provides an opportunity to shift attention to the next major tournament after their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria’s World Cup hopes ended in November 2025 after a penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo in the African play-off final following a 1-1 draw.
The team has since turned its attention to AFCON qualification under coach Chelle, with a squad that combines established players with some new options.
Lookman, who has been involved with Atletico Madrid this season, is expected to be among the key attacking options as Nigeria begin their campaign.
Nigeria enter the qualifiers with strong recent AFCON credentials, having finished on the podium or reached the final stages in three of the last four editions. The Super Eagles most recently claimed the bronze medal at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
The September fixtures against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau will therefore provide the first major test of Nigeria’s preparations for another AFCON campaign.
