Coventry City striker, Taiwo Awoniyi has been recalled to the Super Eagles for the first time in two years after replacing the injured Victor Osimhen in Nigeria’s squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed Awoniyi’s inclusion on Sunday following the withdrawal of Osimhen, who was initially named in the 24-man squad for the qualifiers.
Awoniyi’s last appearance for Nigeria came in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Libya in Uyo, where the Super Eagles secured a 1-0 victory. The striker featured for 16 minutes in the encounter.
“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,” the announcement read on X.
Nigeria will open their qualifying campaign against Madagascar in Uyo on Friday, September 25, before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau four days later.
Osimhen’s withdrawal followed confirmation that the Galatasaray forward had not recovered sufficiently from a muscle injury. He was initially included in the squad announced last Thursday.
“Victor Osimhen’s recovery from a muscle strain has been slower than expected. 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,” a statement from the team’s media officer, Promise Efoghe, read.
“But his absence from Saturday’s match confirms Galatasaray’s correspondence to Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle that the striker is still recovering and will not be ready for Nigeria’s matches.”
Awoniyi, who recently moved from Nottingham Forest to newly promoted Coventry City, could now be considered by coach Eric Chelle to lead Nigeria’s attack in Osimhen’s absence.
The 29-year-old will face competition for the starting role from Tolu Arokodare, Akor Adams and Rafiu Durosinmi, who are also part of the squad.
Since making his senior international debut in 2021, Awoniyi has earned 10 caps for Nigeria and scored two goals.
His involvement with the national team has been affected by injuries despite productive spells at club level.
His most significant AFCON appearance came at the 2021 tournament in Cameroon, staged in 2022, where he featured alongside Kelechi Iheanacho in attack.
With Osimhen unavailable for the tournament due to injury, Awoniyi led the line for the Super Eagles and scored his first international goal in Nigeria’s 3-1 victory over Sudan.
The striker also partnered Osimhen in attack under former Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro in 2023, although the partnership did not last long.
