Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has named Taiwo Awoniyi as a replacement for the injured striker Victor Osimhen ahead of Nigeria’s opening qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Osimhen sustained an injury over the weekend, which forced him to sit out Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon and potentially the upcoming two league fixtures.

While he hasn’t completely ruled himself out of the Super Eagles squad, concerns about his fitness are growing as Nigeria prepares for the crucial September qualifiers.

The Super Eagles will host Madagascar in Uyo on September 23, before heading to Guinea-Bissau for a match on September 27. Victor Osimhen will miss these matches as he continues to recover from a muscle strain.

Fans of the Super Eagles are hoping for some positive news regarding Osimhen’s condition. These AFCON qualifiers will represent Nigeria’s first competitive matches since the 2025 tournament in Morocco.