Former Super Eagles greats have issued a firm warning to Nigeria ahead of the country’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, stressing that the team must not treat the group stage as a foregone conclusion.
Nigeria have been placed in Group L with Tanzania, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, a pool many anticipate will be straightforward for the Super Eagles. The tournament itself will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, but former internationals are pushing back against any complacent mindset. Their argument is simple: Nigeria’s failure to qualify for consecutive FIFA World Cups has shown that status and past reputation no longer guarantee results in modern football.
Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje set the tone right after the CAF draw, insisting Nigeria must approach the qualifiers with urgency from the opening round rather than easing into the campaign.
“These games must be taken seriously,” Sodje said. “There are simply no easy fixtures anymore.”
He urged the current group to convert recent disappointments into motivation on the pitch, warning against allowing those setbacks to linger as a mental weight.
“This is the time to respond properly. The fans deserve more,” Sodje added, acknowledging how supporters have stayed with the team through difficult periods. “The supporters have stayed faithful, and rebuilding that trust will come through performances, discipline, and consistency—not past glories.”
Former midfield player Garba Lawal reinforced the same message. While admitting Nigeria may have the advantage on paper, he insisted that it must be matched by relentless intensity in every fixture.
“It may look like an easy group, but nothing is guaranteed anymore,” Lawal said. “Other countries are developing very fast. The players must give their best every time. No opponent can be taken for granted.”
That caution is backed by the group’s potential pitfalls. Although Tanzania will take part automatically as a co-host, they still have the capability to cause problems in Group L. Madagascar have also shown they can upset bigger teams on the continental stage, while Guinea-Bissau have proven they can be tough and unpredictable in recent AFCON editions.
Ben Iroha, a member of the celebrated 1994 AFCON-winning team, also stressed the risks of underestimating opponents.
“Every match should be approached with absolute seriousness,” Iroha said. “It looks as though Group L is a relatively easy draw, but I don’t see it that way. All these teams want to be at the AFCON. They will present their very best players, and on the pitch, it will still be 11 players against 11 players.”
The qualifying matches will also act as another key test for head coach Eric Chelle. The Franco-Malian manager has steadily won over critics since taking charge, and former defender Kingsley Obiekwu believes Chelle has quickly reshaped the squad’s mindset and culture.
“Since Chelle took over, he has brought sanity, unity, and a fighting spirit back into the team—elements that had been lacking for a while,” Obiekwu said. “He is meticulous with his team selection and provides the right tactical motivation. The way the Eagles are playing now, it will be difficult for any team to stop them if they maintain this focus.”
Nigeria’s strong run to the semifinals of the most recent AFCON in Morocco provided a major boost for the national team. John Obuh, who previously coached the Flying Eagles and now chairs Abia Warriors, praised the tournament’s impact while warning that Nigeria cannot afford to read too much into momentum.
“We did very well in Morocco. The team restored our hope with their style of play, and there were a lot of positive discoveries,” Obuh said. “But as long as they do not underrate these countries—because Madagascar and the rest are no longer minnows—they will succeed.”
He underlined the mindset needed for international football: “Any country we play, we must face them as if we are playing Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Ghana, or South Africa.”
Obuh also pointed to the importance of smooth operations and selection based on merit, insisting that the Nigeria Football Federation must manage logistics properly and keep squad choices aligned with performance. “Ultimately, it is continuous performance that will keep any player in this team,” he added.
Emmanuel Amuneke offered one of the most authoritative perspectives on the danger of dismissing East African opposition. Amuneke, who was named the 1994 African Player of the Year, famously led Tanzania to the 2019 AFCON, ending the nation’s 29-year absence from the tournament.
Amuneke believes Nigeria can qualify, but he insists that perfection of focus from the first whistle is essential. In his view, the September home match against Madagascar could set the tone for the entire campaign, before Nigeria face a difficult trip to Tanzania and then a demanding November double-header against Guinea-Bissau.
He also spoke positively about how Tanzanian football has progressed under TFF President Wallace Karia, praising the patience and the continuity in structure that are now producing tangible results.
That direct experience is why Amuneke refuses to write off the Taifa Stars, regardless of Nigeria’s stronger footballing reputation. “African football has evolved,” he said, “and the Super Eagles ignore that reality at their own peril.”
