The Super Eagles are one point behind Group L leaders Guinea-Bissau, with the only qualifying place still open.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to leave Nigeria for Zanzibar on Sunday, aboard a chartered flight from the Victor Attah International Airport. Head coach Éric Chelle and his players are due to make the trip ahead of Tuesday's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania at the Amaan Stadium, with kick-off at 2pm Nigerian time on 17 November.
Nigeria were 1-1 at half-time in Uyo, after Alhassan Yusuf had put them ahead inside two minutes. Substitute Tolu Arokodare then scored twice after the break, and the Super Eagles won 3-1 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Friday night.
The win lifted Nigeria to second in Group L with six points from three games, one point behind leaders Guinea-Bissau, who were held 1-1 by Madagascar on Thursday. Tanzania are already through as co-hosts, which leaves Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar to compete for the one remaining place.
Chelle was frustrated by Tanzania's equaliser. At his post-match press conference he said: "They have nothing, and you give them something to eat. So they took it." He added that the win was good, but the next game against Tanzania, which Nigeria must also win, was what mattered.
Chelle also looked back at the 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau, the first meeting between the two sides in the group:
"We played badly against Guinea-Bissau."
He said the squad had set out to bounce back from that defeat.
Ademola Lookman, the Atlético Madrid winger, set up Yusuf's opener but was withdrawn in first-half stoppage time and replaced by Moses Simon. According to Chelle, the forward took a knock on his knee. Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe confirmed the injury in a statement on Saturday: "Scan has revealed Ademola Lookman suffered a sprain in his knee ligament during yesterday's match. This rules him out of Nigeria's next AFCON qualifier versus Tanzania in Zanzibar on Tuesday." Lookman is anticipated to head back to his club for additional assessment and treatment.
Reportedly, Calvin Bassey and Benjamin Fredrick have recovered from the cramps each suffered in Uyo.
Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi, who has earned 103 caps for Nigeria, flagged the team's away form. Afrik-Foot reports that, leaving out the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, Nigeria have claimed just two wins from their previous eight competitive matches on the road since June 2024, with four draws and two defeats. Speaking to Nigerian Photo-journalist Pooja in an interview, Iwobi put it this way: "The only way to be consistent is by winning games, and that's what everyone really cares about."
On concentration, which cost Nigeria in Uyo, Iwobi said the squad must stay sharp: "We have to remain focused for the full 90 minutes and not give them any hope that they can beat us."
Soccernet NG sets out what Tuesday decides. Should Nigeria win, they would move to nine points and sit atop the group for a minimum of three hours. A draw in Tanzania would leave them on seven. Defeat would leave them on six with two games left, against a leader who could be on ten points.
Guinea-Bissau host Madagascar at 17:00 WAT the same day, so they will know Nigeria's result before they kick off. After Tuesday, Nigeria have one game each left against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, with Matchdays 5 and 6 due in March 2027.
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