Ben Iroha Warns Super Eagles Against Complacency Ahead of AFCON 2027 Qualifying Campaign

Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign gets underway with a degree of cautious optimism among supporters, but former Super Eagles defender Ben Iroha is urging the national team not to mistake a seemingly manageable group for a guaranteed passage to the tournament.

Following the AFCON qualifying draw held in Cairo, Egypt, Nigeria were placed in Group L alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau, and Tanzania. While many Nigerian fans have viewed the draw as relatively favourable, Iroha — who was part of Nigeria’s victorious 1994 AFCON squad and later served as an assistant coach with the country’s FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning side in 2007 — believes such thinking is dangerous.

“There are no easy games these days, so every match should be approached with all seriousness. This means no team should be taken for granted. It looks as though Group L, which has Tanzania, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, is a relatively easy group, but I don’t think so,” Iroha told Complete Sports.

The experienced former defender pointed to the rising standard of African football as a key reason why Nigeria must remain disciplined throughout the qualification campaign. His comments reflect a broader concern about the inconsistency that has at times undermined Nigeria’s qualification efforts in previous cycles.

“All the teams want to qualify for the AFCON. They will present their very best players in every single game. Above all, it will still be 11 players against 11 players. So, the Super Eagles should remain focused and give their best in every game, regardless of the opponent,” Iroha added.

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda — a historic three-nation arrangement that marks a significant moment for East African football. Tanzania’s presence in Nigeria’s qualifying group adds a layer of additional motivation for the host nation, who will be eager to secure their place on home soil.

Iroha’s warning carries weight given his experience at the highest levels of African football. As a member of the Super Eagles squad that claimed Nigeria’s second AFCON title in Tunisia in 1994, and having contributed to youth development as an assistant coach during Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets’ triumph at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea, his assessment of the competitive landscape commands respect.

The Super Eagles have not always navigated qualifying campaigns with the ease their talent pool might suggest. Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2022 AFCON after a shock playoff exit to Ghana on away goals, a result that highlighted the very complacency Iroha is now warning against. The team subsequently reached the final of the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, where they were beaten 2-1 by the host nation.

Head coach Eric Chelle, who was recently appointed to lead the Super Eagles, named a 27-man squad for the Unity Cup, with notable changes in goalkeeping personnel as Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye were left out in favour of Olawale Okonkwo. How Chelle manages his squad across the qualification campaign will be closely watched, with the AFCON 2027 qualifiers set to provide an early measure of his impact on the team.