Super Eagles: 3 players pushing for a return ahead of AFCON 2027 qualifiers

The Super Eagles will return to action during the September international window when the qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) gets underway, Afrik-Foot reports.

Nigeria have been drawn in Group L alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and co-hosts Tanzania as they aim to book their place at the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

While 24 teams will qualify for the tournament, the presence of one of the host nations in Nigeria’s group makes things more complicated, with the Super Eagles now having to battle for just one available qualification spot.

This means there will be no room for complacency when Nigeria begin their campaign later this month against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. The Super Eagles must avoid dropping unnecessary points if they are to qualify for the tournament.

Nigeria impressed at the last AFCON, going through the competition without losing a game in normal time and eventually finishing third to claim a record ninth bronze medal.

However, their preparations for the qualifiers have been dealt a huge blow following injuries to several key players. The likes of Tochukwu Nnadi and Zaidu Sanusi are set to miss out, while talisman Victor Osimhen could also be unavailable after suffering an injury that could keep him out for several weeks.

Meanwhile, there are some players who have not featured for the Super Eagles in a while, and the upcoming international window could offer them a good opportunity to return to the national team.

3 players who could return to the Super Eagles for the AFCON qualifiers

1. Kelechi Iheanacho

The Bursaspor striker has enjoyed a superb start to the 2026-27 season with the Turkish club, scoring six goals and providing two assists in five matches.

He joined the club after leaving Celtic last summer in what came as a surprise move, but he has hit the ground running. Iheanacho has scored in each of Bursaspor’s five matches this season and has played an important role in their impressive start to the campaign.

The 29-year-old last played for the Super Eagles in 2025 and was left out of the squad for the 2025 AFCON tournament. However, his current form could become difficult for head coach Eric Chelle to ignore.

With Osimhen likely to miss out through injury, this could be the perfect opportunity for Iheanacho to make his return. His experience could also give him an advantage at a crucial time for the Super Eagles.

Osimhen'in yaklaşık 3 hafta sahalardan uzak kalması bekleniyor. (Kutlu Akpınar)

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— Forza Cimbom (@forzacimbom) September 6, 2026

2. Tolu Arokodare

Another player who could be handed a return by Chelle is Ajax forward Tolu Arokodare. The 25-year-old enjoyed an impressive 2024-25 season with Genk, which earned him a move to the Premier League with Wolves.

However, he struggled to make the desired impact in England. Despite his disappointing spell, he still earned a call-up to the Super Eagles and featured during the CAF World Cup playoff final last year.

Arokodare endured a difficult outing in that match as the Super Eagles crashed out and missed the chance to qualify for the World Cup. He has not featured for Nigeria since then.

The striker joined Ajax on loan this summer and has already started rediscovering his goalscoring form. The Super Eagles forward has scored five goals and provided two assists in seven matches across all competitions.

He has also scored in each of his last four matches, and the possible absence of Osimhen could hand him an opportunity to return to the national team.

Arokodare could use the opportunity to force his way back into Chelle’s plans and potentially earn a bigger role in the Super Eagles squad.

3. Ola Aina

Injuries have contributed to Ola Aina’s absence from the Super Eagles in recent times, but the Nigerian defender could make his return for the AFCON qualifiers.

Aina, who normally plays on the right side of defence, missed the AFCON due to injury and has also been left out of recent squads because of fitness concerns.

However, he is now in line for a return, barring any last-minute injury problems. With Zaidu Sanusi likely to miss out, Aina could even be handed a role on the left side of defence, a position where he has featured several times and impressed for both club and country.

Chelle will be hoping to lead Nigeria to another AFCON tournament when the Super Eagles begin their qualifying campaign later this month, as they look to move on from some of their recent disappointments.