Nigeria loses Osimhen for World Cup qualifying opener, calls up Awoniyi after two years away

Nigeria is without its top scorer right as the stakes rise. Victor Osimhen did not recover in time from a muscle injury and has been ruled out of the first two matches of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. His spot goes to Taiwo Awoniyi, who returns to the national team after nearly two years without wearing the Super Eagles jersey.

The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed on Sunday that the Galatasaray forward would be sidelined, along with the emergency call-up of Awoniyi for Eric Chelle's coaching staff. The Coventry City forward now faces a particular moment: it will be his first match with Nigeria in nearly two years, and also his first under Chelle's command.

Interestingly, Osimhen had actually been included in the original 24-man squad Chelle announced, despite being out injured at Galatasaray. The explanation is simple: both the Turkish club and the national team believed the 27-year-old forward would be ready in time. The plan was for him to recover in time for Galatasaray's Super Lig match against Trabzonspor, then join the Nigerian camp right after. But the forward could not even play in that match, and the plan fell apart.

The national team's own communications staff explained it plainly:

"Victor Osimhen's recovery from a muscle strain has been slower than expected. He was included in Nigeria's squad for the AFCON qualifiers because Galatasaray and the Super Eagles' technical staff hoped he would be ready for the Super Lig match against Trabzonspor and available for the international window."Nigeria National Team Communications Staff

Afterward, the Turkish club informed Chelle that Osimhen was still recovering and would not be available for either fixture. It's bad news at the worst possible time: Nigeria opens the group stage without its offensive focal point, in a group where Tanzania has already secured its spot as co-host of the 2027 tournament, leaving Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau to fight over a single qualifying berth.

The schedule leaves no room to ease in. Nigeria hosts Madagascar on September 25 at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, then travels to Bissau four days later to face Guinea-Bissau.

Awoniyi's return, born of necessity and a second chance

Awoniyi's return gives Chelle another central striker alongside Akor Adams and Tolu Arokodare, though it also reopens a story that had been on pause for some time. His last match for Nigeria came in October 2024, when he came on as a substitute in a 1-0 win over Libya in AFCON qualifying, also in Uyo. He had not played for the national team since, and had never played under Chelle, who took charge of the squad in January 2025. The forward himself had previously said he stayed in touch with the coach and was considered for the Unity Cup and other friendlies, but chose not to be available for personal reasons. He now returns with a change of scenery as well, having left Nottingham Forest to join Coventry City this season.

Chelle will have to rebuild an attack that, once again, was built around Osimhen, the key piece in Nigeria's third place finish at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Without him, Adams and Arokodare emerge as the most direct alternatives through the middle, while Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze remain regular fixtures in the attack. There are also two new faces on the list: George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor, both called up for the first time.

Nigeria already opened camp this week in Uyo, with its focus on Friday's match against Madagascar.