Super Eagles without Osimhen: Who takes Nigeria’s penalties and free-kicks?

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will be without Victor Osimhen for the opening two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau after he failed to recover from a muscle injury, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Galatasaray striker was initially included in Eric Chelle’s squad because Nigeria and his club hoped he would recover in time. His continued absence from Galatasaray’s 4-0 defeat by Trabzonspor on Saturday ended those hopes, with the Super Eagles confirming his withdrawal on September 20.

Chelle has since called up Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi to replace him for the two qualifiers. Awoniyi gives Nigeria another centre-forward, but Osimhen’s absence creates a wider question.

Who takes the penalties? Who handles the dangerous free-kicks? Who becomes Nigeria’s main attacking outlet? And who carries the goalscoring responsibility when the Super Eagles face Madagascar in Uyo on September 25 and Guinea-Bissau four days later?

Super Eagles: Osimhen’s role was bigger than scoring goals

Osimhen gives Nigeria a clear penalty-box target, runs behind defenders and a striker capable of occupying centre-backs.

His movement can also create space for players such as Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze to attack from wider positions.

Nigeria therefore cannot simply replace his shirt number with another striker and expect every attacking responsibility to stay unchanged.

Awoniyi can take the central role, but other players will have to share parts of the work Osimhen usually provides.

Lookman has a strong case for penalties

Ademola Lookman enters the qualifiers with recent evidence of handling pressure from the penalty spot.

During Nigeria’s third-place play-off against Egypt at the 2025 AFCON in Casablanca, Lookman converted the decisive penalty as the Super Eagles won the shootout 4-2. Akor Adams, Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi also scored their penalties in the same shootout.

That experience puts Lookman among the clearest candidates if Chelle needs a penalty taker against Madagascar or Guinea-Bissau.

Simon and Adams also have recent international shootout experience. Both converted against Egypt in January, while Chukwueze had a penalty saved by Morocco in the semi-final days earlier.

Chelle has therefore already seen several players handle penalties in competitive matches.

Lookman can also help from free-kicks

Lookman is one of the regular takers of Super Eagles’ direct free-kicks.

During Nigeria’s 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Rwanda in March 2025, he took a free-kick after Moses Simon was fouled outside the box, delivering the ball into the area for Osimhen to score.

He also sent a direct free-kick narrowly wide against Tanzania at the 2025 AFCON.

That gives Chelle a player who can threaten the goal directly while also delivering dangerous balls into the penalty area.

Samuel Chukwueze is another option for deliveries. He supplied a free-kick from 25 yards for Semi Ajayi to score against Ghana during the 2025 Unity Cup.

Moses Simon has also shown value as a set-piece provider. His free-kick against Benin in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign found Osimhen for Nigeria’s third goal.

The evidence suggests Nigeria have several delivery options rather than one fixed replacement for Osimhen’s set-piece presence.

Awoniyi now leads the centre-forward conversation

Awoniyi’s recall gives Chelle another natural central striker after Osimhen’s withdrawal.

The Coventry City forward has the physical strength to compete with centre-backs and can give Nigeria a target inside the penalty area.

His return is also significant because he has not featured regularly for the Super Eagles in recent years. But he can be counted on to do a decent job when called upon.

Awoniyi can occupy defenders, attack crosses and create space for Lookman, Chukwueze and Simon to move into dangerous areas.

Chelle’s decision is bigger than replacing Osimhen

Awoniyi has now been brought in to fill the vacant squad place, but Nigeria’s tactical adjustment goes beyond choosing a new centre-forward.

Chelle must decide who leads the line, who takes penalties, who delivers dangerous free-kicks, who supplies the final pass and which players attack the spaces around the striker.

Lookman, Simon, Chukwueze, Adams, Arokodare, Ilenikhena, Usor and Awoniyi all offer different pieces of that attacking puzzle.

Nigeria’s first test comes against Madagascar in Uyo on September 25, followed by the trip to face Guinea-Bissau .

Without Osimhen, the Super Eagles will have to spread some of his attacking responsibilities across the team.