Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of Nigeria's opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, after failing to recover from a muscle injury, with Taiwo Awoniyi recalled as his replacement.
The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed on Sunday that Awoniyi will join Eric Chelle's squad for the two matches, putting the striker in line for his first Super Eagles appearance in almost two years and his first under the Nigeria coach.
Osimhen had been included in Chelle's original 24-man squad despite being sidelined at Galatasaray because both club and country expected him to recover before the international window.
Nigeria's medical staff had hoped the 27-year-old would return for Galatasaray's Turkish Super Lig game against Trabzonspor this weekend and then be cleared to join the Super Eagles.
That situation changed when the striker was unable to feature in that game.
"Victor Osimhen's recovery from a muscle strain has been slower than expected," the Super Eagles media team said in a statement.
"He 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."
The team said Galatasaray subsequently informed Chelle that Osimhen was still recovering and would not be ready for either qualifier.
His absence leaves Chelle without Nigeria's leading striker for the beginning of the qualifying campaign.
With Tanzania guaranteed a place at the 2027 tournament as co-hosts, Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau are left competing for just one qualification spot from their group.
The Super Eagles host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Sept. 25 before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau four days later, and there is no margin for error.
Awoniyi's recall gives Chelle another specialist center forward alongside Akor Adams and Tolu Arokodare, but also brings the 29-year-old back into the national team after an extended absence.
His last Nigeria appearance came in October 2024, when he came on as a substitute in a 1-0 AFCON qualifying victory over Libya in Uyo. He has not played for Nigeria since and is yet to appear under Chelle, who took charge in January 2025.
The striker said earlier this year that he had been in contact with Chelle and had been considered for the Unity Cup and subsequent international matches but had made himself unavailable for personal reasons.
His return comes after a change at club level, with Awoniyi leaving Nottingham Forest for Coventry City this season.
Chelle will now have to reorganize an attack that had again been expected to revolve around Osimhen. The Galatasaray forward has been the focal point of Nigeria's attack when available and was central to Chelle's first full tournament campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where Nigeria finished third.
In Osimhen's absence, Adams and Arokodare provide the more direct alternatives through the middle, while Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze are among Chelle's other established attacking options. First-time invitees George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor are also in the squad.
Nigeria open camp in Uyo this week ahead of Friday's qualifier against Madagascar.
