Awoniyi replaces injured Osimhen for 2027 AFCON qualifiers

n n

Taiwo Awoniyi has been announced as the replacement for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

n

This was disclosed in a tweet via the official X handle of the Nigeria Super Eagles on Sunday.

n

Awoniyi is now billed to play for the nation’s senior men’s team in their qualifier matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

n

“Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi replaces Victor Osimhen in Nigeria’s squad for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

n

“Welcome back, Taiwo,” the tweet read.

n

Awoniyi, 29, who plies his trade at newly promoted English club Coventry City, was reportedly signed for £9 million from Nottingham Forest.

n

PUNCH Online reported that Osimhen had been ruled out of both matches after his recovery from a right adductor muscle strain took longer than expected, according to a report by the Super Eagles team on Saturday.

n

The Galatasaray striker was part of Eric Chelle’s squad for the international window as the national team hoped he would regain full fitness in time for the qualifiers.

n

However, his expected return was delayed after he was unavailable for Galatasaray’s Süper Lig clash against Trabzonspor on September 19.

n

The match had been viewed by both club and national team officials as an important fitness checkpoint for the striker.

n

On Thursday, Chelle named separate squads for Nigeria’s AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, and a subsequent international friendly against Russia.n

n

The Nigeria Football Federation released the squad lists, with the Super Eagles set to face Madagascar on September 25 and Guinea-Bissau on September 29, before a friendly against Russia on October 6, 2026.

n n