Nigeria’s Super Eagles begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Madagascar‘s Barea at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 25 September, 2026, with Eric Chelle‘s men set for their opening match of the campaign, Made In Africa Sport reports.

The match kicks off at 5 pm Nigerian time, with Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau competing for the group’s remaining qualification place as Tanzania are already assured of a place at the tournament as co-hosts.

That leaves little room for dropped points, particularly for Nigeria on home soil.

Chelle demands a fast start from Super Eagles

Chelle has retained several experienced players while introducing younger options as he begins to shape the squad.

Nigeria have plenty of attacking talent available, with Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare and Taiwo Awoniyi among the forwards expected to provide the threat in Uyo.

Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi offer experience in midfield, while Nigeria’s defence will have to deal with Madagascar’s ability to counter when they win possession.

Chelle has challenged his players to approach the opening game with urgency.

“We have to show everyone from day one that we want it, and the only way to do that is to go for it with our hearts, and refuse to slow down at any point,” he said.

Osimhen’s absence creates opportunity

Nigeria will start the campaign without Victor Osimhen after the Galatasaray striker was withdrawn from the squad because of injury.

His absence removes one of the team’s most prolific attacking options, but it gives other forwards an opportunity to take greater responsibility.

Awoniyi is back in the squad after a lengthy absence from international football and could feature in the attack. Akor Adams and Arokodare are also available, while George Ilenikhena provides another option for Chelle.

The challenge for Nigeria will be maintaining their attacking threat without relying on one player to provide the decisive moment.

Madagascar bring a warning from 2019

Madagascar will not need reminding of their previous meeting with Nigeria.

The Barea defeated the Super Eagles 2-0 at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, one of the most unexpected results of that tournament.

That result provides a reminder of what can happen if Nigeria fail to break down a disciplined opponent.

Madagascar are likely to spend periods without the ball and look for opportunities to attack spaces when Nigeria commit players forward. The Super Eagles will therefore need patience in possession while remaining organised when attacks break down.

Nigeria face test of patience

The key battle in Uyo could come down to Nigeria’s ability to find a way through a potentially compact Madagascar defence.

Lookman, Simon and Chukwueze can provide width and one-on-one threat, while Iwobi’s movement and passing could help Nigeria create openings between midfield and defence.

The Super Eagles may need to move the ball quickly to shift Madagascar’s defensive shape rather than allowing the visitors to settle into a comfortable rhythm.

At the other end, Nigeria cannot afford to become vulnerable by committing too many players forward. Madagascar’s counter-attacking threat means the hosts will need to maintain their defensive structure even when chasing a goal.

What is at stake?

Nigeria face Guinea-Bissau away on September 29, giving Chelle two competitive fixtures in a short opening window.

A win in Uyo would give Nigeria an early platform before the trip to Guinea-Bissau, while dropping points at home would immediately increase the pressure on the remaining matches.

The Super Eagles will have the home support behind them, but Madagascar have already shown that they can cause problems when Nigeria fail to impose themselves.

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LONDON  (Made In Africa Sport) – Nigerian sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan will make her Athlos debut in London on Friday as the women-only track and field series stages its first meeting outside the United States.

The former world record holder is among the leading names in the 100m hurdles field at StoneX Stadium, where she will face world indoor record holder Devynne Charlton, former world champion Danielle Williams, United States’ Alaysha Johnson and Jamaica’s Megan Simmonds.

Amusan will be competing for the first Athlos crown of her career, with the winner of each discipline receiving a Tiffany & Co.-designed crown and $65,000 in prize money.

Amusan faces reshaped hurdles field

The 100m hurdles field was initially expected to include Olympic champion and world record holder Masai Russell, but the American withdrew earlier this week after winning the Diamond League and the $150,000 World Ultimate Championship.

Her withdrawal leaves Amusan as one of the most experienced athletes in the field, with Charlton and Williams providing major competition in an event that has produced several of the sport’s leading names in recent seasons.

According to Punch Newspapers, Amusan was confirmed for Athlos in August and had initially been scheduled to compete in both the London and New York meetings before the latter was cancelled.

The Nigerian is one of only two African athletes on the London programme, alongside Kenya‘s Dorcus Ewoi, who will compete in the mile.

Ewoi will face Britain’s Georgia Hunter Bell and Kate Axford, Australia’s Jessica Hull, Poland’s Klaudia Kazimierska and the United States’ Nikki Hiltz.

Richardson and Thomas make Athlos debuts

Amusan’s appearance is part of a wider gathering of some of the biggest names in women’s athletics, with American stars Sha’Carri Richardson and Gabby Thomas also seeking their first Athlos crowns.

Richardson, the former Olympic and world champion, will contest the 100m against Britain’s Daryll Neita and Imani Lansiquot, New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs, Canada’s Sade McCreath and American Anavia Battle.

Richardson is also an athlete-owner of Athlos, having been involved in the league’s ownership model alongside other participating athletes.

Thomas, the reigning Olympic 200m champion, will race in the 200m against Battle, Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke, United States’ Kayla White and the Netherlands‘ Lieke Klaver.

Adeleke, who was born in Dublin to Nigerian parents, adds another connection to Nigeria’s athletics heritage despite representing Ireland.

Paulino chases Athlos history

The 400m will feature two athletes with previous Athlos podium experience in Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser.

Paulino, the Dominican Republic’s Olympic champion, won the 400m at both the 2024 and 2025 editions and will attempt to become the first athlete to win the Athlos crown in every edition.

She faces Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce and Stacey Ann Williams, Norway’s Henriette Jæger, Poland’s Natalia Bukowiecka and Bahrain’s Nigerian-born Naser.

Naser finished third in the 400m at the 2024 Athlos meeting before improving to second in 2025, giving the former world champion another opportunity to challenge Paulino.

The 800m will have a strong home presence, with Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson leading the field against France’s Renelle Lamote, United States’ Raevyn Rogers and Juliette Whittaker, Switzerland’s Valentina Rosamilia and Ireland’s Sophie O’Sullivan.

The long jump field includes United States’ Claire Bryant, Monae’ Nichols and Alyssa Jones, Portugal’s Agate De Sousa, France’s Hilary Kpatcha and Ukraine’s Iryna Budzynska.

Athlos takes women’s athletics to London

Athlos was created by Alexis Ohanian, the Reddit co-founder and husband of 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams, and held its first meeting at Icahn Stadium in New York City on 26 September 2024.

The series was designed as a women-only professional track and field competition, combining elite athletics with entertainment and a different financial model for athletes.

The 2026 season was originally planned as a two-meeting series, with London on 18 September followed by New York on 2 October.

However, the New York meeting was cancelled, leaving London as the only Athlos meeting of the 2026 season.

The London event therefore becomes the first Athlos meeting to take place outside the United States and marks the beginning of the series’ international expansion.

Seven disciplines are contested: the 100m hurdles, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, mile and long jump.

The original 2026 plan included more than $2.1m in prize money across the two meetings, with athletes able to earn $65,000 for winning an individual event at each meeting.

The overall champion in each discipline was also due to receive a further $25,000 championship bonus and the Tiffany & Co. crown.

Athletes given equity in Athlos

One of the most distinctive elements of Athlos is its athlete ownership model.

Eligible participating athletes are offered equity in the league, giving them a financial stake in the organisation beyond individual prize money.

Ohanian told BBC Sport in May that the structure was intended to give athletes a partnership in the competition they were helping to build.

“The cash compensates their participation and success, and the equity recognises what we’re building together,” Ohanian said.

He added that the equity was intended to create a “real partnership” between the league and its athletes.

Thomas, who was involved with Ohanian during the development of the concept, also told BBC Sport that athletes having a share in the league was unusual in athletics.

The model is part of Ohanian’s wider ambition to develop Athlos into a global athletics property, with the founder previously describing his goal as creating a version of Formula 1 for track and field.

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Abeokuta, Nigeria (Made In Africa Sport) – Renovation work has commenced at the Muda Lawal Stadium in Asero, Abeokuta, Ogun State, three months after the Federal Government approved the revamp of the historic facility in honour of Nigerian football legend Mudashiru Babatunde Lawal.

Made In Africa Sport gathered that the first phase of the project began on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with the clearing of trees and overgrown vegetation within the stadium premises as preparations got under way for the wider rehabilitation.

The project, approved by the Federal Government through the National Sports Commission (NSC) in May, is part of efforts to upgrade sports infrastructure across the country and provide facilities capable of supporting grassroots and elite sports development.

NSC Director General Bukola Olopade described the redevelopment as a fitting tribute to the late footballer, whose career included major successes with Nigeria and IICC Shooting Stars.

Olopade said the project would preserve Lawal’s legacy while creating a modern sporting facility for athletes and competitions.

“Muda Lawal remains one of the finest footballers ever produced by Nigeria and deserves to be immortalised through a modern sporting facility that will serve not only Ogun State but the entire nation,” he said, as quoted by Blueprint Newspaper.

The renovation is expected to include the installation of new tartan tracks and the rehabilitation of major facilities within the stadium to bring the complex up to modern standards.

Olopade described the redevelopment as a recognition of Lawal’s contribution to Nigerian sport and said his legacy continued to inspire athletes across the country.

“This is a fitting recognition for a true Nigerian sporting icon whose legacy continues to inspire generations of athletes across the country,” the NSC director general said.

Muda Lawal Stadium: From neglected facility to sporting hub

The current work is expected to extend beyond the initial clearing exercise, with the stadium buildings, stands and other facilities due for rehabilitation as the project progresses.

The redevelopment is also expected to improve the environment for footballers, athletes, coaches, officials and supporters while creating a venue capable of hosting sports and national competitions.

Olopade said the upgraded stadium would help drive sporting activity in the region, particularly as participation in sports and youth engagement continue to increase.

He added that the intervention was part of the Federal Government’s broader commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to renew sports infrastructure and use sport as a tool for youth empowerment and national development.

Mudashiru Lawal, who hailed from Abeokuta, remains one of Nigeria’s most celebrated footballers.

The former Green Eagles player was a key member of the team that won Nigeria’s first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980, scoring in the 3-0 victory over Algeria in the final.

Lawal was also part of the IICC Shooting Stars side that won the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1976, giving Nigeria its first continental club trophy.

Wider sports infrastructure plans

The redevelopment of the Muda Lawal Stadium forms part of wider Federal Government plans to support sports infrastructure in states hosting upcoming editions of the National Sports Festival.

Enugu State, the next host of the festival, is expected to benefit from the construction of an Olympic-size swimming pool, the upgrade of its indoor sports hall and the rehabilitation of athletes’ hostels.

Other intervention projects are also planned as part of preparations for the Games and the long-term development of sports facilities in the state.

The NSC has said the interventions are aligned with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on youth empowerment, infrastructure renewal and the use of sports to promote national development, unity and economic growth.

In Abeokuta, the commencement of work provides an opportunity to restore a stadium that carries the name of one of the city’s greatest sporting figures.

If the rehabilitation is completed as planned and the facilities are properly maintained, the Muda Lawal Stadium could regain its place as one of Ogun State’s major venues for football, athletics and other sporting activities.

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