Chadian referee Alhadji Allaou Mahamat has been confirmed as the centre referee for Nigeria's opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Madagascar's Barea, scheduled for Friday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

Mahamat, 40, brings considerable experience to the assignment. He has officiated across multiple CAF competitions, including the CAF Champions League, the CAF Confederation Cup, the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, and the African Nations Championship.

A familiar face for the Super Eagles

This will not be Mahamat's first encounter with Nigeria. The Chadian official handled two of the Super Eagles' matches during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign, and both ended in Nigerian victories.

He was in charge when Nigeria hosted Rwanda's Wasps at home — a contest the Super Eagles settled 1-0. He then travelled with the action to South Africa, officiating Nigeria's away fixture against Lesotho, which the Super Eagles claimed 2-1.

Nigeria's AFCON 2027 campaign begins

Friday's match in Uyo marks the start of Nigeria's quest to reach the AFCON 2027 finals. The Super Eagles will be eager to open their qualifying account with a strong performance on home soil against Madagascar.