Awoniyi Super Eagles recall confirmed as Taiwo Awoniyi replaces injured Victor Osimhen for Nigeria’s 2027 AFCON qualifiers in Uyo and Bissau

On Sunday, 20 September 2026, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle and the Nigeria Football Federation named Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi as the late replacement for Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen in Nigeria’s 24-man squad for the opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

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The Awoniyi Super Eagles recall is the 29-year-old’s first invitation to the senior national team since 2024. The official Super Eagles account announced the change with a brief welcome: “Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi replaces Victor Osimhen in Nigeria’s squad for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. Welcome back, Taiwo.”

Victor Osimhen had been included when Eric Chelle released the original squad last Thursday. Team doctors and Galatasaray later confirmed that recovery from a muscle strain had been slower than hoped.

Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe said the Galatasaray striker “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.” Victor Osimhen’s absence from that club fixture ended those hopes.

Taiwo Awoniyi last appeared for Nigeria during the 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign against Libya in Uyo, playing 16 minutes in a 1-0 win.

Since a senior debut in 2021, Taiwo Awoniyi has won 10 caps and scored two international goals. Injuries have often arrived around international windows and limited further involvement, despite regular club form.

The striker recently left Nottingham Forest for newly promoted Coventry City in a reported £9 million move.

In Osimhen’s absence, Taiwo Awoniyi will compete for a starting place with Tolu Arokodare, Akor Adams and Rafiu Durosinmi as Eric Chelle prepares the attack.

Nigeria host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 25 September 2026, then travel to face Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, 29 September.

Camp is expected to open in Uyo on Monday. A friendly against Russia is scheduled for 6 October, though Victor Osimhen is also expected to miss that fixture.

Taiwo Awoniyi’s deepest Africa Cup of Nations run came at the 2021 tournament, staged in Cameroon in 2022, when Victor Osimhen was also injured.

Taiwo Awoniyi led the line with Kelechi Iheanacho and scored a first senior international goal in a 3-1 win over Sudan.

A later pairing with Victor Osimhen under Jose Peseiro in 2023 proved short-lived.

The recall offers Eric Chelle an experienced, physical centre-forward option at the start of a qualifying group that also includes Tanzania.

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For Taiwo Awoniyi, it is a timely chance to rebuild a national-team career that has too often been interrupted when the window opened.