Osimhen injury: Can Ranchers Bees hero Rabiu Zulkifilu earn a Super Eagles chance?

Victor Osimhen will miss Nigeria’s opening two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after Galatasaray confirmed that the striker suffered a right groin injury, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Super Eagles face Madagascar in Uyo on September 25 before travelling to Guinea-Bissau four days later.

That leaves Eric Chelle with a familiar problem of finding enough attacking power while Nigeria’s leading striker is unavailable.

Rabiu Zulkifilu has entered that conversation at exactly the right moment. The Ranchers Bees player scored three times as his newly promoted club demolished Abia Warriors 4-0 at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina on Monday. Zulkifilu’s goals arrived in the 41st, 45th and 62nd minutes, making him the first hat-trick scorer of the 2026/27 season.

His first was a header from Faisal Sani’s cross. He then struck from distance before completing the treble from Jamilu Yusuf’s pass. Yusuf later scored the fourth. Zulkifilu now leads the early NPFL scoring chart with three goals after only one start.

Interestingly, Zulkifilu is not a like-for-like Osimhen replacement. The Ranchers Bees’ star is often deployed as an attacking midfielder, although he is versatile enough to play anywhere across the final third. And his attacking output against Abia Warriors gives Chelle another domestic option to assess.

Osimhen’s replacement: Who is Rabiu Zulkifilu?

Zulkifilu, 24, was born on January 1, 2002, and has built his career almost entirely in Nigerian football. His recorded path includes Kwara United, Plateau United, Wikki Tourists, Lobi Stars, Rangers International and Kano Pillars before his move to Ranchers Bees this August.

His strongest spell came at Plateau United. He made 27 league appearances and scored 13 goals in 2020/21, then added 10 goals in 25 appearances the following season.

He later joined Kano Pillars, where he scored against Rangers in October 2024 after Ahmed Musa created the chance. He also supplied the cross for Mustapha Umar’s winning goal against Abia Warriors in February 2025.

Zulkifilu already has international experience. He was a key member of the Flying Eagles squad to the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup, helping Nigeria beat Qatar and draw 1-1 with eventually winners Ukraine before their exit in the Round of 16.

His latest move brought him to Ranchers Bees on August 7. He missed their 3-1 defeat to Ikorodu City but returned to the starting lineup against Abia Warriors and immediately produced three goals. That combination of experience and sudden scoring form makes his next few NPFL games important.

Super Eagles: Chelle has already opened the NPFL door

Zulkifilu has one reason to believe Chelle could give him a chance. The Super Eagles coach has already shown that the domestic league can provide international players.

At the 2026 Unity Cup, Chelle selected several NPFL players, including Michael Atata, Elias Ochobi, Chibueze Oputa, Obinna Igboke, Aderemi Adeoye, Ayobami Junior and Tosin Oyedokun.

Chelle also gave NPFL players a major platform during the 2025 Unity Cup. He later explained that he wanted to give home-based players opportunities because one of them could eventually produce a decisive goal for Nigeria.

His record also includes a separate CHAN assignment with Nigeria’s home-based Eagles, where he selected eight players from NPFL champions Remo Stars, alongside players from Rivers United and Ikorodu City.

So, has Zulkifilu won Chelle’s heart? Not yet. One hat-trick cannot guarantee a Super Eagles invitation. But with Osimhen unavailable, Zulkifilu has supplied Chelle with something every coach wants. And that’s three goals, a strong first impression and a reason to watch the next game.