Debutants Ilenikhena and Usor power Nigeria past Madagascar in AFCON opener

[p]Goals from debutants [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ilenikhena-george/t41NlDfO/"]George Ilenikhena[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/usor-moses/U9LlcXIJ/"]Moses Usor[/a] secured a comeback victory for the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nigeria/EBE2Xb3l/"]Super Eagles[/a] at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.[/p][embed guid="49b8a003-53f4-4a71-9371-eee7ca58a01b" url="https://x.com/NGSuperEagles/status/2103555515347566616" social-type="twitter" /][p]Eric Chelle's men started the keenly contested match brightly as they created clear opportunities while the Barea defended resolutely and looked dangerous on the counter.[/p][p][b]However, it was the visitors who stunned the home crowd in the 16th minute when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/couturier-clement/I5gdzdvp/"]Clement Couturier[/a] headed home [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ponti-ryan/88S7aHTk/"]Ryan Ponti[/a]'s cross past goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nwabili-stanley/f7Sr6Oxg/"]Stanley Nwabali[/a].[/b][/p][p]That fuelled a positive response from Nigeria who attacked in number with Saudi based Ilenikhena going close on two occasions. [/p][p]His first effort was saved by goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dupire-geordan/r3iyaups/"]Geordan Dupire[/a] after being played through by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bassey-calvin/faJVc0Mk/"]Calvin Bassey[/a] before heading over the bar from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chukwueze-samuel/niW1cP0k/"]Samuel Chukwueze[/a]’s cross.[/p][p][b]The Super Eagles eventually found an equaliser in first-half stoppage time with Ilenikhena tapping home from close range after a brilliant pass from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/iwobi-alex/2L5gbR8M/"]Alex Iwobi[/a] to send the teams into the break level.[/b][/p][p]Nigeria returned for the second half with greater attacking intent and continued to search for a second goal. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lookman-ademola/8QK1SO5g/"]Ademola Lookman[/a] had an effort blocked inside the box, while Bassey also saw a header saved by Dupire.[/p][p]Chelle then turned to his bench, bringing on Moses Usor for Chukwueze and centurion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/simon-moses/Cj5rnjpG/"]Moses Simon[/a] for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/adams-akor/nks9eiQ4/"]Akor Adams[/a].[/p][embed guid="cea58c26-d576-411f-b7b0-e70fa77b2b74" url="https://x.com/NGSuperEagles/status/2103548686471246133" social-type="twitter" /][p]The substitutions quickly paid off as Usor put the three-time African kings ahead for the first time in the 65th minute.[/p][p][b]The LASK forward received the ball from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ajayi-semi/2qbYQ9um/"]Semi Ajayi[/a], drove forward, beat two defenders and cut inside before firing a left-footed effort into the bottom-right corner.[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/madagascar/88OzY9OB/"]Madagascar[/a] pushed for an equaliser, but Nigeria held firm during the closing stages. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/abdallah-hakim/UgdWrRnk/"]Hakim Abdallah[/a] had an effort blocked as the visitors continued to threaten.[/p][p]Chelle made further changes, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arokodare-toluwalase/4IsrUYg1/"]Tolu Arokodare[/a] replacing Lookman and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/awoniyi-taiwo/OWFf8WFm/"]Taiwo Awoniyi[/a] coming on for Ilenikhena as Nigeria protected their lead.[/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="6c914958-c899-477a-a845-92caa85e529a" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="0de3c7c9-84dd-4e43-b433-f6eb29d7e1ae" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]The victory gives Nigeria three points from their opening qualifier, while Madagascar returned home with heads bowed low.[/p][p]The Super Eagles will next travel to face Guinea-Bissau, who opened their campaign with a 2-0 away victory over AFCON 2027 co-hosts Tanzania to move to the top of Group L.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/madagascar-88OzY9OB/nigeria-EBE2Xb3l/summary/stats/?mid=dS6bdM1S"]Catch up on all the match stats with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p][image alt="Shina Oludare" id="77f4edee-493b-45e2-b24b-0d9a1e05766a" credit-line="Flashscore" hidden-attrs="alt, credit" guid="cd3d938e-eaf4-4e8b-8dbf-992eeb0b1f75" original-width="1200" original-height="381" /]