Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi has replaced injured Victor Osimhen in the Super Eagles squad for Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau later this month.

“Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi replaces Victor Osimhen in Nigeria’s squad for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau,” said a post on the Super Eagles’ official Instagram.

Head coach Eric Chelle called up 24 players last week for the two matches, including Osimhen, but it became clear that the Galatasaray striker would not recover in time to be fit for the fixtures.

“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 the Super Eagles technical crew were hopeful he would be fit for the Super Lig game versus Trabzonspor and ready for the international window.

“But his absence from tonight’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,” a statement said on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Osimhen’s absence has allowed Awoniyi to return to the Super Eagles squad. The 29-year-old recently completed a move from Nottingham Forest to newly-promoted Premier League side Coventry.

Nigeria will host Madagascar in the first match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, on September 25 before travelling to Bissau to take on the Wild Dogs of Guinea-Bissau four days later.

Updated full AFCON 2027 qualifiers squad

Goalkeepers: Arthur Okonkwo, Maduka Okoye, Stanley Nwabali.

Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi, Isaac James, Benjamin Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Olaoluwa Aina.

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka.

Forwards: Moses Simon, Taiwo Awoniyi, Akor Adams, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Tolu Arokodare, George Ilhenikina, Moses Usor.