Taiwo Awoniyi replaces Victor Osimhen in Nigeria’s squad for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau after Osimhen’s injury ruled him out of the September fixtures.
Taiwo Awoniyi replaces Victor Osimhen as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, with the Coventry City striker receiving a late call-up after Osimhen was ruled out through injury.
The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed the change on Sunday, September 20, following growing uncertainty over Osimhen’s fitness. The Galatasaray forward had originally been included in Éric Chelle’s 24-man squad for the opening qualifying fixtures, but his recovery from a right adductor muscle strain has taken longer than expected.
Awoniyi’s return gives Chelle another experienced attacking option as the Super Eagles begin their campaign to reach the 2027 AFCON finals in East Africa.
Taiwo Awoniyi replaces Victor Osimhen
The Super Eagles announced Awoniyi’s inclusion in a brief update on their official social media account, confirming that the Coventry City striker would replace Osimhen for the two AFCON qualifiers.
The move comes after Osimhen was unable to recover in time for the international window. According to reports from Nigeria’s national team camp, the striker remains under treatment following the muscle injury he suffered while playing for Galatasaray against Istanbul Başakşehir earlier in September.
Osimhen was initially named in Chelle’s squad because there was hope that he would regain full fitness before Nigeria’s first competitive fixtures of the new qualifying campaign. However, he was absent from Galatasaray’s league meeting with Trabzonspor on September 19, a match that had been viewed as an important fitness check.
His continued absence subsequently led to his withdrawal from Nigeria’s plans for the Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau matches.
Awoniyi returns to the Super Eagles
For Awoniyi, the call-up represents a return to the senior national team at an important moment.
The 29-year-old striker recently moved to newly promoted Coventry City after leaving Nottingham Forest in a reported £9 million transfer. His experience in English football and previous international appearances give Chelle another option as he adjusts his attacking plans without Osimhen.
Awoniyi has previously represented Nigeria at senior level and was part of the Super Eagles squad at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored during Nigeria’s 3-1 group-stage victory over Sudan at that tournament.
His latest invitation comes as Nigeria looks to build a strong start in the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign. The squad already includes other attacking options such as Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare, Samuel Chukwueze and George Ilhenikhena.
Awoniyi’s arrival therefore adds depth rather than leaving Chelle entirely dependent on one replacement for Osimhen.
Nigeria’s AFCON 2027 qualifiers
Nigeria will begin its Group L campaign at home against Madagascar on Friday, September 25.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo before travelling to Bissau for their second fixture against Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, September 29.
CAF’s official fixture schedule lists Nigeria versus Madagascar as one of the opening Group L matches, while Guinea-Bissau will face Nigeria in the second round of fixtures.
The group also includes Tanzania, one of the three co-hosts of the 2027 tournament alongside Kenya and Uganda. Because the three host nations have automatic qualification, CAF’s qualification format means the highest-ranked team from Group L apart from Tanzania will secure the group’s qualifying place.
That makes every point particularly important for Nigeria from the opening stages of the campaign.
Osimhen’s absence changes Chelle’s plans
Osimhen’s withdrawal is significant because he was one of the headline names in Chelle’s original squad.
The striker remains an important part of Nigeria’s attacking setup, but his injury means the coach must now prepare for the opening two qualifiers without him. Rather than waiting for his recovery, the national team has moved quickly to bring in Awoniyi.
The decision also provides Chelle with another striker who has previous experience of playing for Nigeria. That familiarity could help the forward settle into the squad quickly, although his eventual role will depend on the coach’s tactical plans and the form of the other attackers.
Nigeria’s original 24-man squad already contained several attacking choices, including Akor Adams and Tolu Arokodare, meaning Awoniyi’s addition gives Chelle even more flexibility ahead of the double-header.
Focus shifts to Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau
With the squad adjustment now confirmed, attention turns to the two opening fixtures.
The Madagascar game will be Nigeria’s first opportunity to collect points in the qualifying campaign, while the trip to Guinea-Bissau four days later will present a different challenge away from home.
The Super Eagles will be looking to make a strong start under Chelle as they pursue qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be staged across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
For Awoniyi, the timing could hardly be more significant. He now has an opportunity to step into Nigeria’s plans at short notice and compete for a place in an attack that has lost its leading striker for the opening fixtures.
For Osimhen, the immediate priority remains recovery. His return to competitive football will depend on how he responds to treatment and rehabilitation.
For Nigeria, however, the qualifiers cannot wait. The Super Eagles must now prepare for Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau with Awoniyi among the attacking options available to Chelle.
