Super Eagles’ Coach, Eric Chelle, has summoned Coventry City Striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, to replace Galatasaray forward, Victor Osimhen in the team ahead of the two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea Bissau.

Osimhen was tipped to lead the Super Eagles attack in the two games, as well as the international friendly against Russia, but the Turkey-based star has been ruled out of the games by an injury.

The NFF confirmed Awoniyi’s inclusion in a post on its official X account yesterday.

It wrote: “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.”

Awoniyi, 29, currently plays for newly promoted English club Coventry City, having reportedly joined from Nottingham Forest in a £9 million deal.

The NFF confirmed that Osimhen will not be available for the games as his recovery from a muscle strain has proved slower than expected.

The development corroborates Galatasaray’s correspondence to Coach Eric Chelle that Osimhen would not be ready in time for Nigeria’s upcoming AFCON qualifiers.

Osimhen suffered the injury on September 4 when he scored Galatasaray’s opening goal in their 3-2 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir before being forced off in the 33rd minute.

Medical examinations revealed a moderate-to-severe strain with bleeding in the right adductor muscle group.

The 27-year-old subsequently missed Galatasaray’s Champions League opener against Sporting CP and their 1-0 league victory over Kocaelispor before also sitting out Saturday’s meeting with Trabzonspor.

Nigeria will host Madagascar in Uyo on September 25 before travelling to Guinea-Bissau four days later.

Apart from the newly invited Awoniyi, other strikers in the squad for the opening qualifiers are Tolu Arokodare, Akor Adams and George Ilenikhena.