Osimhen vs Arokodare, Boniface, Dessers: Who should Chelle pick for AFCON 2027 qualifiers?

Éric Chelle has a useful problem before the Super Eagles’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in September, Afrik-Foot reports.

Several Super Eagles forwards have started the new club season with goals, but they are doing it in very different ways.

Tolu Arokodare has made the strongest new claim. The Ajax striker scored twice against FC Sion on Thursday to help his new club win 5-3 and complete a 9-5 aggregate victory in the UEFA Conference League playoff. His goals came in the first-half stoppage time and the 51st minute. The brace took his Ajax record to three goals and two assists in five appearances.

Victor Osimhen, though, has set an even higher scoring standard. The Galatasaray striker has scored four goals in his first two league matches, including two goals in the 4-0 win at Erzurumspor. He also scored twice in the opening league game against Çorum FK.

Cyriel Dessers has also forced his way into the conversation. The Panathinaikos forward came off the bench against Hradec Kralove and scored in the 72nd minute before converting a penalty in the 125th minute. His two goals gave Panathinaikos a 2-1 win and a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Their excellent conditions raise a question of which forward give Chelle the best mix of current form, movement, physical power and experience when the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign starts.

Osimhen still leads the race

Osimhen should be the first name on Chelle’s striker list. The Galatasaray forward has scored four goals in two Süper Lig matches. His second league game produced a brace in a 4-0 win away to Erzurumspor, after he had already scored twice against Çorum FK.

That output matters because Nigeria will need a proven finisher in competitive matches. Osimhen also has a long international record and finished the 2025 AFCON with 34 goals for Nigeria after his brace against Mozambique.

Unless there is an injury or a major change in his club situation, Osimhen should start Nigeria’s September campaign as Chelle’s first-choice No.9.

Arokodare has changed the debate

Arokodare’s case is different. He is not competing with Osimhen for the role of established first-choice striker. He is competing for a place in the squad and possibly a chance to change games from the bench.

His start at Ajax gives Chelle a strong reason to bring him back. The 25-year-old has three goals and two assists in five appearances since joining the Dutch club. His latest performance came under pressure, too. Ajax needed to finish the job against Sion after a 4-2 first-leg win, and Arokodare scored twice in Amsterdam.

Arokodare also offers a different physical profile. His height, strength and ability to attack crosses can give Nigeria another route when a defence blocks central passing lanes. That makes him a strong candidate for September, especially if Chelle wants three centre-forwards with different qualities.

Ajax – FC Sion, 5-3. pic.twitter.com/iSsnBeKllx

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) August 27, 2026

Dessers is back in the argument

Dessers’ two-goal European performance has arrived at an important moment. The Panathinaikos striker entered against Hradec Kralove in the second half and scored in the 72nd minute. After the hosts equalised in the 92nd minute, he settled the tie with a penalty in the 125th minute.

That is more than a good scoring statistic. It shows a striker who can enter a difficult match and affect it quickly. Dessers was part of Nigeria’s previous AFCON squad before an injury forced him to leave the camp. His experience gives Chelle another reason to consider him.

Hradecká cesta Evropou po statečném boji končí.

Postup Panathinaikosu zařídil ve 120+5. minutě proměněnou penaltou Cyriel Dessers. pic.twitter.com/VSleGVPiXz

— TV Tipsport (@tvtipsport) August 27, 2026

Durosinmi and Iheanacho are pushing too

Rafiu Durosinmi is another forward who has started the season strongly. The KRC Genk forward has scored in each of his first three games for the Belgian club, winning the man-of-the-match award twice. The former Pisa man scored against Zulte Waregem, Westerlo and Royal Antwerp in August.

Kelechi Iheanacho has also started well at Bursaspor. He has scored three goals and supplied one assist in his first three league appearances in Turkey’s 1. Lig. He scored against Bodrum FK, Igdir FK and Fatih Karagümrük.

Akor Adams deserves a mention, too. He scored twice and provided an assist on his competitive debut for Venezia in a 3-2 Coppa Italia win over Modena. He then started the Serie A opener against Lecce but did not score. The former Sevilla man was the Chelle’s first choice partner for Osimhen at the 2025 AFCON.

Boniface and Moffi need more time

Victor Boniface has given Chelle something positive, but his competitive club form is not yet strong enough to put him ahead of Osimhen or Arokodare.

Boniface scored the winner in Leverkusen’s 2-1 pre-season victory at Newcastle on August 15. He came on late and scored in the 82nd minute. He was then an unused substitute in Leverkusen’s 4-0 DFB-Pokal win at Wehen Wiesbaden.

Terem Moffi has just joined Hamburg from Nice and was given the No.9 shirt. His Bundesliga return could become important, but he has not yet played a league match for Hamburg, so his September case is based more on his previous record than his current club form.

Paul Onuachu has an even harder case right now. The Trabzonspor striker scored 22 league goals last season but has started the new campaign without a goal in competitive football.

Who should Chelle call?

Based on early-season form, the order should be Osimhen, Akor Adams, Arokodare, Dessers, Durosinmi, Iheanacho, and Boniface, with Moffi and Onuachu needing stronger club performances before moving up the list.

Osimhen is the clear starter. Adams is his preferred partner. Arokodare deserves the third spot because his Ajax move has produced immediate goals and assists. Dessers has earned serious consideration after his European brace.

A four-striker squad of Osimhen, Adams, Arokodare and Dessers would give Chelle different options: a world-class finisher, a mobile goal poacher, a powerful target forward and an experienced penalty-box striker who can make an impact from the bench.

The September AFCON test

Nigeria are in Group L with Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau. Tanzania are one of the three tournament co-hosts and already have an automatic place at AFCON 2027. That means only the highest-ranked team among Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau will take the other qualification place from Group L.

The opening two matchdays will be played between September 21 and October 6, 2026. Nigeria’s first confirmed fixture is against Madagascar on Friday, September 25.

Matchdays 3 and 4 are scheduled for November 9-17, while the final two rounds will be played from March 22-30, 2027. The AFCON finals will take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027, in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.