Super Eagles injury list: Osimhen, Nnadi & 4 others in doubt for September AFCON qualifiers

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is preparing to name his squad for Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau four days later, Afrik-Foot reports.

Nigeria will play their opening AFCON 2027 qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo before travelling to Bissau for the second Group L fixture.

Both matches are essential three-point pursuits given only the top-placed team apart from automatic-qualifier co-hosts Tanzania advances from the group.

However, the specific list of Super Eagles internationals either confirmed out or in doubt for the two fixtures has grown considerably in the past two weeks. Here is where every notable name currently stands.

Confirmed injuries: 4 Super Eagles stars ruled out of September AFCON qualifiers

1. Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray)

The Super Eagles’ most decisive attacking player is the highest-profile confirmed absentee. Victor Osimhen suffered an adductor-groin injury during Galatasaray’s 3-2 win over Basaksehir on September 5, forcing him off in the 33rd minute after he had already scored the opening goal.

Galatasaray have formally confirmed the diagnosis as a moderate-to-advanced level strain with bleeding in the right groin area, and the Turkish club has publicly stated the striker will not return until after the September international break.

His absence removes the specific target-man goal-scoring focal point of Chelle’s 4-3-1-2 shape.

2. Tochukwu Nnadi (Marseille)

Marseille midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi has been ruled out of the qualifiers after opting against surgery on a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained during Ligue 1 action.

His agent Alexis Daguev confirmed the non-surgical decision to French daily La Provence, choosing a conservative rehabilitation route in a bid to protect the specific Marseille reintegration timeline.

The decision effectively rules Nnadi out for the September window and creates a genuine question mark over his October availability as well.

3. Zadok Yohanna (Brighton)

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler has formally ruled Zadok Yohanna out until after the international break as the club manages the 19-year-old’s adaptation to Premier League intensity following his July 2026 move from AIK Stockholm.

4. Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto)

FC Porto full-back Zaidu Sanusi has been formally ruled out of the September qualifiers with an ongoing fitness issue that the club has publicly confirmed.

Sanusi’s specific recovery timeline remains uncertain, but the confirmed exit from September selection leaves Bruno Onyemaechi and Ola Aina as the left-back rotation options for the two fixtures.

Doubts: Super Eagles stars whose availability is unclear

5. Femi Azeez (Brighton)

Brighton’s second Nigerian summer signing, Femi Azeez, remains a doubt for the September window with a persistent hamstring issue carrying over from his final Millwall days. The 25-year-old winger has yet to play a game for the Seagulls.

6. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio)

Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is currently nursing a thigh injury, but is in the race against time for his fitness.

The bigger picture for Eric Chelle

The six-name injury list captures the tactical crisis Chelle has been forced to absorb across the past three weeks.

Osimhen’s absence alone is a big hit, and it’ll be interesting to see how they adapt to the absence of the 2023 CAF Player of the Year.

The counterbalance is that Chelle’s bigger attacking pool has produced in-form players like Iheanacho, Orban, Arokodare and Durosinmi, giving the head coach considerably more attacking options than the initial injury news suggested.

Umar Sadiq’s fitness also remains a background concern that could add a seventh name to the list before the Uyo camp opens.