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Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi has replaced Victor Osimhen in Nigeria’s squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Awoniyi’s last appearance for the Super Eagles was on October 11, 2024, against Libya in an AFCON 2025 qualifier in Uyo. Nigeria won 1–0, with the striker coming on as a substitute and playing about 16 minutes.
Since then, his involvement with the national team has been limited. In June 2026, Awoniyi said he declined an invitation to feature in Nigeria’s Unity Cup and friendly matches for personal reasons.
His return to the squad follows Osimhen’s withdrawal while recovering from a muscle strain, prompting head coach Eric Chelle to call up Awoniyi as his replacement.
