Turkey-based Madagascar midfielder Rayan Raveloson says the Barea are not scared of the Super Eagles ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Nigeria in Uyo on Friday, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
Raveloson and his teammates got to Nigeria on Monday, settling in before the star-studded hosts who started arriving on Tuesday.
Nigeria will miss striker Victor Osimhen due to an injury, but Raveloson, who plays for Amedspor in the Turkish Super Lig, insists Madagascar is not afraid of facing Nigeria, no matter the big names in the Eagles squad.
“Osimhen is a big player and everyone knows him. We are not scared. It’s football and they are humans like us. Everyone wants to win, but sometimes you have to lose to learn,” he told Football Temple.
Madagascar, ranked 104th in the latest FIFA rankings, has a squad made up mostly of players from European lower divisions and African leagues.
The Barea hope to carry the momentum from their recent performance at the African Nations Championship, where they reached the final, into their AFCON qualifying campaign.
They want to qualify for only their second AFCON tournament after making their debut in 2019, when they reached the quarter-finals in a memorable run.
Madagascar also recorded a famous 2-0 win over Nigeria during the group stage of the 2019 tournament in Egypt.
In their last AFCON qualifying matches, Nigeria defeated Madagascar home and away during the run-up to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, even though the Eagles did not qualify for the tournament.
The Madagascar Football Federation appointed Corentin Martins as head coach in January 2025, with the goal of qualifying for the 2027 AFCON being a key target.
After facing Nigeria on Friday, Madagascar will play against Tanzania next week, giving Martins and his players little time to recover between their first two matches.
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