Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, and Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been called up to replace him.
The Galatasaray forward will miss the Super Eagles’ games against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau as he recovers from a muscle injury. Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe said Osimhen’s recovery “has been slower than expected”.
Galatasaray and Nigeria’s technical crew had hoped he would be fit enough to play against Trabzonspor on Saturday, but he did not make the club’s matchday squad.
Osimhen was hurt in Galatasaray’s 3-2 win over Istanbul Basaksehir in early September and was forced off in the first half. Chelle included him in his 24-man squad in the hope that he would recover in time.
The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed Awoniyi’s inclusion on Sunday, and the Super Eagles welcomed him back on their social media platforms with the message “Welcome back, Taiwo.”
Awoniyi joins a squad that still has Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Samuel Chukwueze and Tolu Arokodare, along with newcomers George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor.
The 29-year-old striker has not played for Nigeria since October 2023. He has won 10 senior caps and scored twice and his last goal came in the 6-0 win over São Tomé and Príncipe in Uyo in September 2023, and his other came at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations against Sudan. He joined Coventry from Nottingham Forest this summer and has been keen to earn a recall.
Nigeria host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25, then travel to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, September 29. The two games are the first in the qualifiers for the three-time African champions, who are in a group that also includes co-hosts Tanzania.
