Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle is confident in his players’ mentality and ability to secure a victory against Madagascar despite the absence of several key players.

The former Malian tactician will be without key players, including Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen, Brighton duo Zadok Yohanna and Femi Azeez, Lazio’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and MLSer Alhassan Yusuf for Friday’s encounter due to injuries.

However, Chelle believes their absence will not be a problem for the team when they face Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Friday.

“We have a lot of injuries, Femi Azeez, Zadok Yohanna, Victor {Osimhen}, Alhassan Yusuf, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru,” he said in an interview

“We have a lot of injuries but this is not a problem for us. Of course, I prefer these guys to be with us.”

Speaking during his press conference, Chelle expects a difficult encounter against the Barea, recalling Madagascar’s victory over Nigeria at the 2019 AFCON.

“We have to work on it, so we are ready to play the game,” he added.

“It is going to be a difficult game because Madagascar is a big team. I think they won against Nigeria in 2019.”

Chelle described the game as a fight and expressed confidence in his players’ mentality, insisting that they would be ready to compete when the two teams meet.

“We have to be ready. It is going to be a fight. The players have a good state of mind and we will be ready tomorrow,” Chelle concluded.

Chelle will be hoping the Super Eagles can secure a victory and begin their AFCON qualifying campaign on a positive note.

Kai Havertz was forced off during the first half of Germany’s Nations League clash against the Netherlands, handing Arsenal an early injury concern during the international break.

Havertz was tasked with leading the line in Jurgen Klopp’s first match as Germany’s new head coach.

The 27-year-old lasted just 30 minutes of the fixture with the forward having gone down appearing to signal an issue with his hamstring.

Havertz’s issue emerged just minutes after he had fallen victim to a poor challenge from Quinten Timber, the brother of Havertz’s Arsenal team-mate Jurrien.

Timber had arrived late for a challenge and caught Havertz high on his knee, with the German attacker immediately falling to the pitch.

Havertz appeared fortunate that the late challenge had only seen Timber’s boot brush his knee, rather than make significant contact.

Havertz ultimately left the field with a hamstring issue later in the half, with Younes Ebnoutalib coming on to make his international debut as his replacement.

While Havertz walked off the pitch, the injury will be of concern to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

Havertz has been an ever-present for the Gunners’ starting line-up in their first five Premier League matches of the campaign, with Arteta backing him to lead their attack.

The extended international break will give Havertz time to recover before Arsenal’s next Premier League match against Leeds on October 10.

There was another injury issue for a Premier League side, with Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey also being forced off with a hamstring problem.

Brobbey, who scored a hat-trick against Man City last weekend, went down for the Netherlands during a Germany attack in the first half.

Despite appeals from the Dutch to kick the ball out, Germany continued to attack and ultimately opened the scoring through Felix Nmecha.

Dutch players clashed with their German opponents after being angered over the nature of the goal, with Brobbey also needing to be replaced due to his injury.

Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has stressed that the Super Eagles cannot afford to underestimate Madagascar, insisting that there are no easy games at international level.

The Super Eagles will take on the island nation on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo in their opening match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Aina put an end to speculation over his international future by being among the first players to report to the Super Eagles’ camp in Uyo.

Since starting the 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, in which he suffered a serious injury that ruled him out for the majority of the first half of last season, Aina has missed 18 consecutive matches involving the three-time African champions.

Now back in the squad, Aina has warned his Super Eagles teammates to expect a difficult encounter against Madagascar.

Speaking on expections from the opening game, Aina said “it’s good spirit everywhere, it’s very well right now. I expect it to be like any other game we play. When we come to Afcon qualifiers, it will be tough, it will be hard.

“No team is easy, so it will be a good test for us. Nigerians should expect a good game. We expect ourselves to play well and we’re working towards the three points.”

If Aina is handed minutes against Madagascar, it would mark his fourteenth appearance for the Super Eagles in Afcon qualifying.