Super Eagles may return to Lagos for AFCON qualifiers
By Tosin Omojola
There are strong indications that Nigeria’s Super Eagles may return to Lagos for competitive matches, years after the team last played in the former Nigerian capital.
It was gathered at the weekend that efforts were being intensified to host the team’s remaining 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches in Lagos, the Centre of Excellence.
A competent source disclosed that the National Sports Commission (NSC) was working to convince the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to approve a stadium in Lagos as the venue for the Super Eagles’ remaining qualifying fixtures.
Nigeria failed to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and has played its recent World Cup and AFCON qualifying matches at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The Super Eagles are also facing an uphill task in their bid to qualify for the 2027 AFCON, a situation that has generated concerns among Nigerian football fans.
The team’s next AFCON qualifying fixtures are scheduled for November 9 to 17, with Tanzania among their opponents.
Tanzania, one of the three co-host nations of the 2027 tournament, has automatic qualification, leaving Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau to battle for the remaining two places available to teams in Group L.
The 2027 AFCON finals will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
