Categories: Sports

Awoniyi replaces Osimhen in Super Eagles squad for AFCON Qualifiers

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has called up Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi to replace injured Victor Osimhen for Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced Awoniyi’s inclusion via the Super Eagles X account on Sunday.

The NFF stated: “Coventry City striker, Taiwo Awoniyi replaces Victor Osimhen in Nigeria’s squad for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

“Welcome back, Taiwo. 🦅”

Osimhen, who plays for Galatasaray, was initially included in Chelle’s squad despite concerns over his fitness ahead of the September international window.

However, the striker was ruled out of the two qualifiers after suffering a right adductor muscle strain.

His recovery took longer than expected, with Osimhen missing Galatasaray’s Turkish Super Lig clash against Trabzonspor on September 19.

The match had been viewed as an important fitness assessment for Osimhen ahead of the international window.

Osimhen ruled out of Super Eagles AFCON qualifiers

Awoniyi, 29, recently joined newly promoted English club Coventry City from Nottingham Forest in a reported £9 million deal.

The former Nigeria international now returns to the Super Eagles squad as the team begins the quest for qualification for the 2027 AFCON.

The Super Eagles will begin their qualifying campaign with a home fixture against Madagascar in Uyo on September 25, before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau four days later.

The Super Eagles are also scheduled to face Russia in an international friendly on October 6.

Awoniyi’s call-up, however, is specifically for the two AFCON qualifying matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

Segun Ojo

Recent Posts

Court adjourns El-Rufai’s N1bn suit against ICPC, others

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday adjourned a N1 billion rights suit…

35 minutes ago

TCN begins repairs on four vandalised transmission towers in Rivers

The Transmission Company of Nigeria has commenced the rehabilitation of four transmission towers vandalised along…

1 hour ago

Nursing students protest rape, stealing by hoodlums in hostel attack

Hundreds of students of the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo, took to the…

1 hour ago

Uba Sani unveils school infrastructure programme to boost education in Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has commissioned Basic Education Schools Infrastructure and Educational Interventions across…

1 hour ago

Lagos residency will showcase Africa’s world-class entertainment venues — Davido

Afrobeats star, Davido, says his planned three-night residency at the National Theatre in Lagos will…

2 hours ago

‘Who’s running Nigeria?’: Atiku knocks Tinubu’s 21-day absence amid hardship, killings

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has questioned the…

2 hours ago

This website uses cookies.