Injury has knocked star striker Victor Osimhen and defender Olisa Ndah out of the Nigeria squad to take on Libya in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier double header against Libya this month.
Neither player was included in the 23-man Super Eagles roster, which is headlined by Atalanta‘s Ademola Lookman and Bayer Leverkusen‘s Victor Boniface.
Osimhen reportedly suffered a muscle injury in Galatasaray’s Turkish Super Lig fixture against Kasimpasa on September 28. According to the Turkish club, the African Player of the Year, who has made an impressive start to life in Turkey, is expected to be out for a few weeks.
Both Osimhen and Ndah were part of the squad that got off to a four-point start in the qualifiers under Austin Eguavoen last month.
Despite the absences, Eguavoen has named a strong squad, with Fulham‘s Alex Iwobi leading a cast of six England-based players, including Taiwo Awoniyi, Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi.
The MLS is also represented with New England Revolution‘s Alhassan Yusuf, but there is no place for Chelsea‘s Tosin Adarabioyo, who recently expressed an interest to switch his allegiance to Nigeria.
Adarabioyo, 27, has represented England at under 16 through under 19 levels but is yet to make a senior appearance and his Three Lions window appears to have closed.
Officials told ESPN that he would need to make a formal move to be considered: “Jose Peseiro travelled to meet with him in the UK last year to speak to him about playing for Nigeria, but he told the coach at that time that he was not ready,” an NFF source told ESPN.
“If he wants to make the switch now he knows what to do.”
Returning to the squad for the first time since 2022 is winger Chidera Ejuke, who has rediscovered a new lease of life in Sevilla.
Nigeria play Libya at Uyo on October 11, before making their way over to Benghazi to engage the Mediterranean Knights in the second leg of the fixture four days later.
Squad:
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa), Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy), Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)
Defenders:
William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey), Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal), Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England), Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England), Benjamin Tanimu (Crawley Town, England)
Midfielders:
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy), Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany), Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards:
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy), Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy), Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France), Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England)
