AFCON 2027 Qualifier: Nigeria Fight Back to Beat Madagascar 2-1 in Uyo

Nigeria’s Super Eagles opened their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Madagascar took an early lead in the 16th minute through Ehsan Kari, but Nigeria responded through debutants George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor to secure all three points.

Kari headed Madagascar ahead after the visitors executed a short-corner routine, leaving Nigeria with an early deficit to overcome.

The Super Eagles struggled to create clear opportunities for much of the opening period despite enjoying possession. Their persistence eventually paid off in first-half stoppage time when George Ilenikhena, making his senior international debut, converted a chance created by Alex Iwobi to level the score.

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Nigeria returned from the break with greater attacking intent and took the lead in the 65th minute.

Moses Usor, another debutant, received the ball on the right, drove towards the Madagascar penalty area and moved past defenders before cutting inside and firing a low left-footed shot into the net.

Madagascar pressed for an equaliser in the closing stages, but Nigeria held on to claim victory in its opening AFCON 2027 qualifier.

The result gives head coach Éric Chelle three points from his first competitive assignment with the Super Eagles, although Nigeria will have areas to address before the next fixture, particularly after conceding early and creating limited chances in the first half.

The victory also gives Nigeria an important early advantage in Group L. Guinea-Bissau defeated Tanzania 2-0 in the other group match, while Tanzania is one of the co-hosts of the 2027 AFCON tournament alongside Kenya and Uganda.

Nigeria will face Guinea-Bissau away on September 29 in its second Group L fixture.

For Ilenikhena and Usor, the match provided an impressive introduction to senior international football, with both players finding the net on their Super Eagles debuts.

Nigeria will now seek another positive result against Guinea-Bissau as the AFCON 2027 qualification race gathers momentum.

AFCON 2027 Qualifier: Nigeria Fight Back to Beat Madagascar 2-1 in Uyo

Former Super Eagles Captain Troost-Ekong Embraces Islam, Recites Shahadah in Doha

Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has embraced Islam after reciting the Shahadah, the Islamic declaration of faith, in Doha, Qatar.

The development was reported on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, after a video emerged showing the 33-year-old Nigerian defender reciting the two testimonies of faith in Arabic.

Qatari newspaper Al-Arab first reported that Troost-Ekong had announced his conversion to Islam while in Doha, where he currently plays for Qatar Stars League club Al-Ahli. The footage subsequently circulated widely on social media and attracted reactions from football fans and Muslim communities.

In the video, Troost-Ekong is seen reciting the Shahadah with the guidance of Sheikh Mansour bin Nasser Al-Khalidi. Al Jazeera reported that the former Nigeria captain expressed a desire to read more and deepen his understanding of Islam.

Al-Khalidi also said Muslim friends around Troost-Ekong at his club had helped introduce him to Islam and influenced his interest in the faith. However, these details were reported by the cleric and have not been separately explained by Troost-Ekong himself.

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The Shahadah is the declaration of faith in Islam, affirming the oneness of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad. Its recitation is regarded as the central declaration through which a person enters the Islamic faith.

International Muslim scholar Dr Muhammad Salah also shared footage of Troost-Ekong reciting the Shahadah on his verified Facebook page, welcoming the former Super Eagles captain’s reported conversion. Other media outlets in Nigeria and abroad subsequently reported the development.

Troost-Ekong currently plays for Al-Ahli SC in Doha. He joined the Qatar-based club in January 2026 after leaving Saudi Arabian side Al-Kholood, signing a one-and-a-half-year contract. He had moved to Saudi Arabia in 2024 following his spell with Greek club PAOK.

The defender has built a career across several European and Middle Eastern leagues, with previous spells at clubs including Udinese, Watford, Salernitana and PAOK. His move to Qatar marked another stage in a professional career that has taken him through the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Turkey, Italy, England, Greece, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Troost-Ekong also enjoyed a decade-long international career with Nigeria. He made his Super Eagles debut in 2015 and went on to earn 83 senior caps and score eight goals before announcing his retirement from international football in December 2025.

He represented Nigeria at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Olympic Games and several Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He was a key member of the Super Eagles squad that reached the final of the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire.

Troost-Ekong scored three goals during that tournament, including in the final against the host nation, and was named Player of the Tournament. His performances made him one of the standout defenders of the competition.

Born in the Netherlands to a Nigerian father and Dutch mother, Troost-Ekong developed through youth football in England before beginning his senior career with FC Groningen in the Netherlands. He later represented several clubs across Europe before moving to the Middle East.

His reported conversion to Islam in Qatar has generated significant interest in Nigeria and beyond, particularly because of his profile as a former national-team captain.

While the video documents his recitation of the Shahadah, the precise circumstances surrounding his decision have largely been reported through accounts from Muslim clerics and media outlets. Troost-Ekong himself has not issued a detailed public statement explaining his personal journey or decision beyond what is shown in the video.

The development marks a new personal chapter for the former Super Eagles captain, who continues his professional football career with Al-Ahli in Qatar after ending his international career.

Former Super Eagles Captain Troost-Ekong Embraces Islam, Recites Shahadah in Doha

Messi Fires Stunning 75th Career Free-Kick to Reach 930 Goals in Inter Miami Draw

The Argentine maestro bags his 101st goal for the Herons alongside a Luis Suárez strike as San Diego FC snatches a 2-2 result.

Lionel Messi reached another historic milestone on Sunday night, curling home his 75th career direct free-kick to tally his 930th professional goal during Inter Miami’s pulsating 2-2 draw with San Diego FC.

The 39-year-old Argentine forward stepped up in the 24th minute after drawing a foul outside the penalty area, whipping a trademark left-footed strike off the post past goalkeeper CJ dos Santos to cancel out Anders Dreyer’s early chip for the visitors.

Consequently, the spectacular strike marked Messi’s 101st goal in an Inter Miami shirt, arriving just four days after he surpassed the century mark in a Campeones Cup victory over Mexico’s Cruz Azul and his 20th league goal of the 2026 Major League Soccer campaign.

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Building on that momentum, strike partner Luis Suárez found the net in the 74th minute to hand Miami a 2-1 lead. However, Dreyer struck back for San Diego eight minutes later, capitalizing on defensive space to slot home his second goal of the evening and silence the home crowd.

Ultimately, the late equalizer condemned Inter Miami to their fourth consecutive MLS stalemate, leaving the club on 46 points with a record of 12 wins, four defeats, and 10 draws.

While the shared points frustrated coach and squad alike in the playoff seeding race, Messi continues to defy age, anchoring Miami’s attack and pushing global scoring records to extraordinary heights.

Messi Fires Stunning 75th Career Free-Kick to Reach 930 Goals in Inter Miami Draw