George Ilenikhena also scores on his first senior appearance as Nigeria recover from an early setback to begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with victory in Uyo.
By HillsNews Sports Desk
Moses Usor marked his Super Eagles debut with a memorable winning goal as Nigeria came from behind to defeat Madagascar 2–1 in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on Friday, September 25, 2026.
The encounter at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo saw two Nigerian debutants, George Ilenikhena and Usor, score the goals that secured all three points for Eric Chelle’s side.
Madagascar took a surprise lead in the 16th minute, but Ilenikhena equalised shortly before half-time after receiving a pass from Alex Iwobi.
Usor then completed the comeback in the 65th minute with an impressive individual effort, driving forward before cutting inside and finishing with his left foot.
The victory gave Nigeria a winning start in Group L and highlighted the immediate contributions of two players making their first senior international appearances.
Madagascar Stun Super Eagles With Early Goal
Nigeria entered the match hoping to make a strong start to their qualifying campaign, but the visitors disrupted those plans with an early breakthrough.
Madagascar took the lead in the 16th minute when Ehsan Kari found the net following a well-worked set-piece move.
The goal placed Nigeria under pressure in front of their home supporters.
Despite enjoying periods of possession, the Super Eagles initially struggled to turn their attacking play into clear scoring opportunities.
Samuel Chukwueze provided an outlet on the right flank, while Iwobi attempted to create openings through midfield.
However, Madagascar defended with determination and made it difficult for the hosts to establish a consistent attacking rhythm.
The early setback also brought memories of Nigeria’s 2–0 defeat to Madagascar during the group stage of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
This time, however, the Super Eagles found a response.
George Ilenikhena Scores on His Nigeria Debut
Nigeria’s equaliser arrived in first-half stoppage time through George Ilenikhena.
The young forward, making his senior international debut, timed his movement to receive a pass from Iwobi before converting the opportunity.
His goal brought Nigeria level at 1–1 and changed the mood of the contest heading into the interval.
It was a significant moment for Ilenikhena, who had been given an opportunity in the absence of injured striker Victor Osimhen.
Scoring on his debut provided an immediate demonstration of his ability to contribute at international level.
The equaliser also ensured that Nigeria entered the second half with a chance to complete the comeback rather than continue chasing the match from behind.
Moses Usor’s Brilliant Solo Goal Wins the Match
The decisive moment came in the 65th minute when Moses Usor produced a superb individual goal.
The LASK winger, introduced as a substitute, collected possession on the right and advanced towards Madagascar’s defence.
Rather than immediately releasing the ball, he continued his run, moving past defenders before cutting inside.
He then struck a low left-footed shot that beat the goalkeeper and put Nigeria ahead for the first time.
The goal completed a remarkable introduction to senior international football for Usor.
Making a debut in a competitive qualifier presents a significant challenge, particularly when the match remains closely contested.
Usor responded by taking responsibility in possession and producing the attacking quality Nigeria needed.
His goal ultimately proved to be the winner as the Super Eagles protected their advantage until the final whistle.
Eric Chelle’s Changes Make the Difference
Nigeria’s second-half improvement reflected both the players’ response and the adjustments made by head coach Eric Chelle.
With Madagascar defending compactly, Nigeria needed greater movement and attacking variation to create openings.
Usor’s introduction provided a more direct option on the flank.
His willingness to run at defenders gave the visitors another problem to manage and eventually produced the decisive goal.
Iwobi’s creativity had already played an important role in the first-half equaliser, while Ilenikhena showed composure in front of goal.
Together, those contributions helped Nigeria overcome a difficult start.
Although the Super Eagles were unable to extend their lead after Usor’s strike, they did enough to secure the result.
Two Debutants Deliver Three Important Points
One of the most encouraging aspects of the victory was that both Nigerian goals came from players making their senior international debuts.
Ilenikhena’s equaliser and Usor’s winner demonstrated the potential value of introducing new attacking options into the national team.
Nigeria entered the fixture without Osimhen, placing additional responsibility on the available forwards.
The newcomers responded with goals at important stages of the match.
For Chelle, the performances provided further options as he continued building his squad for the qualifying campaign.
However, one successful appearance does not guarantee a permanent place in the team.
Both players will need to maintain their performances and compete for opportunities in subsequent international fixtures.
Nevertheless, their contributions against Madagascar provided a promising starting point.
Moses Simon Reaches International Milestone
The match also featured an important milestone for experienced winger Moses Simon.
Simon made his 100th senior appearance for Nigeria, joining a select group of players to reach a century of international caps for the Super Eagles.
His achievement provided another notable moment on an evening dominated by the performances of Nigeria’s newcomers.
While Ilenikhena and Usor were celebrating their first appearances, Simon was marking years of service to the national team.
The contrast highlighted the blend of experience and emerging talent within Chelle’s squad.
What the Victory Means for Nigeria
The 2–1 result gave Nigeria three points in their opening Group L fixture of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Starting with a victory was particularly important after Madagascar’s early goal threatened to frustrate the hosts.
The performance nevertheless exposed areas requiring improvement.
Conceding from a set-piece situation placed Nigeria under unnecessary pressure, while the team initially struggled to break down Madagascar’s defensive organisation.
Chelle will want greater consistency as the campaign progresses.
At the same time, the ability to recover from a goal down showed resilience.
The performances of Ilenikhena and Usor also offered evidence that the squad has players capable of contributing beyond its established attacking names.
Nigeria’s next scheduled qualifying fixture was an away meeting with Guinea-Bissau on September 29.
Conclusion
Moses Usor could hardly have imagined a better beginning to his Super Eagles career.
Introduced during a closely contested qualifier, the winger produced an outstanding solo goal to secure Nigeria’s 2–1 victory over Madagascar.
His performance followed another memorable debut moment from George Ilenikhena, whose first-half equaliser brought Nigeria back into the contest.
Together, the two newcomers ensured that Eric Chelle’s side began their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with three points.
For Usor, the winning goal was more than a spectacular finish. It was an immediate statement of his potential in the Nigerian national team.