Awoniyi Replaces Injured Osimhen in Chelle’s Squad for Madagascar

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Super Eagles Head Coach, Eric Chelle, has replaced injured Victor Osimhen with Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi ahead of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea Bissau this Friday and Tuesday next week.

Osimhen was a surprise inclusion in Chelle’s squad for the two first matches of the qualifiers as the Galatasaray striker has not fully recovered from his muscle strain injury when the list of invited players was released.

Galatasary and Super Eagles technical crew were hopeful Osimhen would be fit for the Turkish Super Lig game versus Trabzonspor last Saturday but it didn’t work as he’s still recuperating.

The Coventry City striker Awoniyi was a late call-up as a direct replacement for Osimhen.

Awoniyi, a former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles star, is a seasoned campaigner who made his Super Eagles debut in October 2021. He last featured for the Super Eagles on October 11, 2024, against Libya.

He has two goals in 10 appearances.

Meanwhile, the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying Match, between the Senior Men National Team of Nigeria (Super Eagles) and the Senior Men National Team of Madagascar, is scheduled to take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Friday, 25th September 2026.

The encounter, a Day 1 game of the qualifying series for next year’s final tournament to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, will kick off at 17:00hrs.