Super Eagles: What Samuel Chukwueze could lose after undergoing hip surgery

Super Eagles attacker Samuel Chukwueze has undergone surgery to correct a hip problem and faces a lengthy period on the sidelines as a result.

​The 27-year-old attacker has been a key player for coach Ruben Amorim at AC Milan this season. He has excelled while playing as a right wing-back, contributing two assists in eight appearances across all competitions.

​However, he suffered an injury in the Rossoneri’s 3-2 win over Atalanta at the Giuseppe Meazza on October 18. Since then, he has missed four of AC Milan’s matches.

Initial reports suggested he would spend only two months on the sidelines, but fresh updates indicate that he will not be back until March 2027.

​This is a major blow for the former Villarreal man, who seemed to be getting his career back on track after failing to secure a desired move to Fulham during the summer transfer window.

​In this article, Afrik-Foot examines three things the Super Eagles star could miss out on due to this latest injury.

​Super Eagles: What Samuel Chukwueze’s Injury Might Cost Him

​First and foremost, this injury could cost Samuel Chukwueze his place at AC Milan. While he has been a regular starter under Ruben Amorim so far, players like Omari Hutchinson and Diego Moreira are ready to step in and deliver solid performances in his absence.

​With Chukwueze sidelined, these rivals have an extended window to plead their case to Amorim. If they perform consistently, it will be difficult for Chukwueze to break back into the starting eleven, as managers are rarely inclined to tamper with a winning side.

​This could relegate him to his previous status — regularly struggling for a spot in the starting lineup and serving primarily as an impact substitute.

​His spot in the Super Eagles squad is equally at risk. He is ruled out of the November qualifiers against Tanzania, and it remains doubtful whether he will regain full fitness ahead of the March 2027 international break, when Nigeria will wrap up their AFCON qualifying campaign.

​Unfortunately for him, several in-form players are currently knocking on the door.

​Moses Usor impressed in his latest outing for Nigeria, while Philip Otele is another reliable option out wide. Femi Azeez and Zadok Yohanna, though sidelined by injuries at Brighton, also boast huge potential once they return. On top of that, Ethan Nwaneri’s international switch from England to Nigeria remains in progress.

​Ordinarily, Chelle sets up with two central forwards, which prompts him to load up on central striking options. Given the current abundance of Nigerian strikers performing across Europe, Chukwueze could easily slip down the pecking order—going from a squad regular to a mere afterthought.

​It is not as if his recent performances have been spectacular, either. Once Chelle identifies a dependable and consistent right winger, Chukwueze will face an uphill battle to win back his spot.

​For the player, a prolonged layoff of this scale is unfamiliar territory. The last time he missed more than two months of action was during the 2020/21 campaign due to a hamstring injury.

​He will need to manage his rehabilitation during this period, perhaps reinventing his tactical approach and adding a few new dimensions to his game. If he returns firing on all cylinders, he will give any manager a difficult selection headache to ignore.