Victor Osimhen Out of Nigeria's AFCON Qualifiers With Injury

Victor Osimhen will not be involved in Nigeria's opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau after failing to shake off a muscle injury, and Taiwo Awoniyi has been called up to replace him in Eric Chelle's squad.

The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed the change on Sunday. Awoniyi is already in camp with the rest of the 23 man group assembled ahead of the two matches, marking his first Super Eagles call up in almost two years and his first ever under Chelle.

Osimhen had originally been named in Chelle's 24 man squad even though he was already out injured at Galatasaray, with both club and country hopeful he would be fit in time for the international break. Nigeria's medical team were banking on the striker being passed fit for Galatasaray's Super Lig clash with Trabzonspor over the weekend before joining the Super Eagles, but that plan fell apart once he was left out of that game too.

"Victor Osimhen's recovery from a muscle strain has been slower than expected," the Super Eagles media team said in a statement. "He was included in Nigeria's squad for the AFCON qualifiers because Galatasaray and Super Eagles technical crew were hopeful he would be fit for the Super Lig game versus Trabzonspor and ready for the international window."

According to the statement, Galatasaray later told Chelle that Osimhen simply wasn't ready and would miss both qualifiers.

It is a big blow for Chelle, who loses his most potent striker just as Nigeria begin a qualifying group where only one spot is up for grabs. Tanzania have already secured qualification as co-hosts of the tournament, which leaves Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau fighting it out for the remaining place, so there isn't much room for slip ups.

The Super Eagles take on Madagascar first, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on September 25, before flying out to face Guinea-Bissau four days later.

Awoniyi's recall adds a third recognised striker to the group alongside Akor Adams and Tolu Arokodare, who were both already part of the 23 in camp. But it also marks a return for a player who has been out of the picture for a while. His last outing for Nigeria came back in October 2024, when he was brought on as a substitute in a 1-0 AFCON qualifying win over Libya, also in Uyo. He hasn't featured for the national team since, and had previously said he'd made himself unavailable for Chelle's squads for personal reasons, despite being in touch with the coach.

Awoniyi also has a new club now, having left Nottingham Forest for Coventry City this season.

With Osimhen out, Chelle will have to rethink an attack that had again been built around the Galatasaray man, who was central to Nigeria's run to third place at the last AFCON in Morocco under Chelle. Adams and Arokodare offer more direct options through the middle in his absence, while Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze remain part of the attacking options already in the camp. George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor, both first time call ups, round out the group.

Nigeria are already in camp in Uyo this week getting ready for Friday's game against Madagascar.