Taiwo Awoniyi has landed a spot in the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, stepping in for the injured Victor Osimhen. The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed the Coventry City striker's inclusion on Sunday via their official X account, marking a return to the national team for the forward.
Osimhen's absence was confirmed on Saturday, as the Galatasaray player couldn't recover from a muscle strain in time for the crucial matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. He was initially part of coach Éric Chelle's 24-man selection, with hopes that he'd be fit for the international break after his club and the national team's technical staff discussed his recovery timeline.
However, the fact that Osimhen missed Galatasaray's recent Süper Lig game against Trabzonspor made it clear his recovery was taking longer than anticipated. The Super Eagles' media team then officially announced his unavailability for the two qualifiers, paving the way for Awoniyi's recall.
The inclusion of the 29-year-old Awoniyi gives Coach Chelle another experienced option in the forward line. Nigeria is set to kick off their Group L campaign at home. They will host Madagascar's Barea at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25th. Four days later, on Tuesday, September 29th, the team will travel to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau's Wild Dogs.
Awoniyi, who has previously featured for the Super Eagles at the senior level, missed the team's last set of games. His return provides central attacking support alongside Akor Adams and Tolu Arokodare. Further attacking options are available through Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, and Samuel Chukwueze, giving Chelle a wealth of choices.
The Super Eagles are heading into these qualifiers on the back of a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco. There, they showed their mettle by defeating Algeria 2-0 in the quarter-finals before being knocked out by the eventual champions, Morocco, in the semi-finals. They'll be looking to start their qualification journey for the 2027 tournament on a high note with strong performances against both Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, aiming to secure their spot.
This call-up is a significant moment for Awoniyi, who will be eager to contribute to the team's success. Osimhen's injury, while unfortunate, highlights the depth within the Super Eagles squad and the importance of having reliable replacements ready to step up when needed. The team's performance in these opening qualifiers will set the tone for their campaign and demonstrate their readiness to compete on the continental stage once more.