Eguavoen recalls Osimhen, Sadiq for AFCON qualifiers against Benin, Rwanda

Super Eagles head coach, Austin Eguavoen, on Wednesday, recalled striker Victor Osimhen for Nigeria’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda this month.

Also making a return are Real Sociedad forward Sadiq Umar and defender Gabriel Osho.

Osimhen, who missed Nigeria’s last matches against Libya in October due to an injury sustained at his club Galatasaray, is set to strengthen the squad. Osho steps in to replace the injured Semi Ajayi, while Sadiq takes the spot of Taiwo Awoniyi, who was not included in the squad.

Nasarawa United’s Victor Collins, a defender earning his first call-up, is the only home-based player in the team.

The Super Eagles need just one point from these games to secure a spot in next year’s AFCON, following CAF’s decision to award Nigeria three points from the abandoned match against Libya.

Nigeria will face Benin Republic at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan on Thursday, November 14, before hosting Rwanda on matchday six at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

Squad List:

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Victor Collins (Nasarawa United).

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); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain).