Udeze Urges Nigeria to Treat Every AFCON Qualifier Seriously After World Cup Stumble

TL;DR: Ifeanyi Udeze says Nigeria must take all 2027 AFCON qualifiers seriously, noting that only the group winner advances because co‑host Tanzania already qualified automatically.

Nigeria’s recent World Cup qualifying campaign ended in disappointment, prompting a former Super Eagles defender to sound a cautionary note. The team failed to secure a spot for the 2026 tournament, and Udeze says complacency could repeat that outcome in the upcoming AFCON qualifiers.

Nigeria was drawn into Group L alongside Tanzania, Madagascar, and Guinea‑Bissau for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Because Tanzania is a co‑host of the finals, it has already secured automatic qualification, leaving only the group winner to advance from this section.

Udeze told Brila FM that Nigeria must play every match with full strength and not underrate any opponent. He referenced past encounters, noting that Nigeria has faced all three rivals before, with mixed results, and stressed that each game deserves maximum effort.

The implication is clear: Nigeria cannot afford to drop points against any side in Group L. Winning all six matches is the only guaranteed path to the 2027 finals, which will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17, 2027.

What to watch next: Nigeria opens the campaign at home against Madagascar on September 23, 2026, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, followed by away fixtures versus Guinea‑Bissau and Tanzania in the subsequent international windows.