Madagascar midfielder Rayan Raveloson says the Barea are not intimidated by Nigeria ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying opener in Uyo on Friday.
The two teams will clash at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, with Nigeria seeking a winning start to their qualifying campaign.
Raveloson, who plays for Turkish club Amedspor, acknowledged Nigeria’s quality but said Madagascar would approach the encounter without fear.
“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 reporters in Uyo.
The midfielder’s comments come despite Nigeria’s pedigree as a three-time African champions and the presence of several established players in the Super Eagles squad.
However, Nigeria will be without striker Victor Osimhen, who has been ruled out of the fixture through injury.
Madagascar will also draw confidence from their previous meeting with Nigeria at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, where the Barea recorded a 2-0 victory in the group stage.
The Malagasy side are seeking only their second appearance at the AFCON finals after making their debut in 2019 and reaching the quarter-finals. They also reached the final of the recent African Nations Championship.
The match will be the first of two qualifying fixtures for Madagascar in a short period, with Corentin Martins’ side scheduled to face Tanzania next week.
