Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has insisted that Victor Osimhen’s absence will not derail Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign as the team prepares to face Madagascar in Uyo.
Osimhen has been ruled out of Nigeria’s opening qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau after continuing his recovery from a muscle strain. Taiwo Awoniyi was called up as his replacement.
Despite losing one of his most important attacking options, Chelle believes Nigeria have enough quality within the squad to cope.
“We have a lot of injured players. Victor Osimhen, Alhassan Yusuf and Dele-Bashiru, but it’s not a problem for us,” Chelle said ahead of the Madagascar clash.
Osimhen’s absence naturally dominates the conversation around Nigeria’s preparations.
The Galatasaray striker had initially been included in Chelle’s 24-man squad after both club and country hoped he would recover in time for the international window.
However, his recovery took longer than expected and he was subsequently withdrawn from the squad. Awoniyi was brought in to strengthen the attacking options available to the coach.
Chelle, however, does not want the Super Eagles to use injuries as an excuse.
Alongside Osimhen, Alhassan Yusuf and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru are also unavailable for the Madagascar fixture because of injuries.
Rather than focusing on who is missing, the coach is looking at the players available to him.
Nigeria still have attacking options including Tolu Arokodare, Akor Adams, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Usor and new senior call-up George Ilenikhena.
The absence of Osimhen therefore creates an opportunity for another forward to step forward.
Chelle is also aware that Madagascar cannot be treated lightly, the Barea famously defeated Nigeria 2-0 at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, although the Super Eagles had already secured their place in the knockout stages before that encounter.
Chelle referenced that result when discussing the challenge facing his team.
“We are ready; it will be difficult because Madagascar is a big team. It will be a fight; they defeated Nigeria in 2019,” he said.
That history gives the fixture an additional layer, particularly with Nigeria beginning another AFCON qualifying campaign.
Madagascar will also arrive knowing that they have previously caused problems for the Super Eagles on the continental stage.
The Super Eagles will play their first Group L qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, with kick-off scheduled for 5pm Nigerian time.
For Chelle, the message to his players is straightforward: Nigeria must attack the qualifying campaign from the beginning.
The coach has called on his team to show their determination immediately rather than allowing the campaign to develop slowly.
Nigeria are in Group L alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania. Tanzania, as one of the tournament’s co-hosts, already have automatic qualification, leaving the other teams competing for the available qualifying place.
That makes every result important, after the Madagascar match, Nigeria will travel to Guinea-Bissau for their second qualifier on September 29.
Starting the campaign with points at home would give Chelle’s side a useful platform before the difficult away fixture.
With Osimhen unavailable, more responsibility will fall on Nigeria’s other attacking players, Ademola Lookman remains one of the biggest threats in the squad and is expected to play an important role against Madagascar.
The Atalanta forward has the ability to operate from wide areas or move into central positions, giving Chelle flexibility in attack.
Akor Adams and Tolu Arokodare are among the recognised centre-forward options, while Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze can provide pace and creativity from the flanks.
Newcomer Ilenikhena is another option after receiving his first senior invitation, Chelle therefore has several different attacking profiles to choose from, even without Osimhen.
Osimhen’s absence is a setback, but it also creates a chance for other players to establish themselves, Awoniyi, who returns to the Super Eagles setup after nearly two years, could play an important role after replacing Osimhen in the squad.
Arokodare has also been given an opportunity to compete for a regular place, while Adams offers another option in the central attacking position.
For Ilenikhena, meanwhile, this could be the beginning of his senior international career.
Chelle’s selection of the young Al-Ittihad striker alongside established forwards shows that the coach is willing to broaden his attacking options. CAF confirmed that Ilenikhena was one of three players handed their first senior Nigeria call-ups for the September qualifiers.
The Super Eagles enter the qualifier knowing that qualification is important after Nigeria failed to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Chelle will therefore want his team to avoid another disappointing start, the coach’s confidence suggests he believes Nigeria have enough quality to overcome the current injury problems.
The real test will come on the pitch, Madagascar have already shown they can frustrate Nigeria, and the Barea will be looking to repeat their previous success.
For the Super Eagles, however, the task is clear: play with intensity, take their chances and begin the road to the 2027 AFCON with a positive result.
Osimhen may be missing, but Chelle has made it clear that Nigeria’s ambitions remain unchanged.
