Nigeria coach Eric Chelle faces a fresh selection headache ahead of Friday's meeting with Madagascar after top scorer Victor Osimhen was forced to withdraw from the squad through injury. The Galatasaray forward, who remains the Super Eagles' leading active goalscorer, pulled out with a muscle strain, prompting Chelle to draft in Coventry City's Taiwo Awoniyi as a replacement.
The loss of Osimhen is a blow for a Nigeria side still searching for answers following a disappointing showing at AFCON 2025 and their failure to secure qualification for this summer's World Cup. The Super Eagles will be eager to put those setbacks behind them when they host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, with kickoff scheduled for 5pm BST.
Despite the absence of his star striker, Chelle has been able to call upon a squad rich in Premier League experience. The most notable new addition is Charlton Athletic's Arthur Okonkwo, who represents the one unfamiliar face in an otherwise seasoned group. Okonkwo, a former England youth international, switched his international allegiance to Nigeria back in April and made his debut for the Super Eagles during the Unity Cup earlier this year. Now on loan at Wrexham, the goalkeeper could be handed just his third senior cap, though Chelle may prefer to stick with the more experienced Stanley Nwabali between the posts for a fixture of greater consequence than the Unity Cup outing.
Up front, the coach must decide how to fill the void left by Osimhen. Tolu Arokodare and Awoniyi are both in contention for the central striking role. Arokodare has enjoyed a promising start to his loan spell at Ajax, netting twice in five league appearances, and will hope that form is enough to convince Chelle to give him the nod over the returning Awoniyi.
Elsewhere, there is a distinctly Fulham feel to the side Chelle is expected to field. Calvin Bassey is set to marshal the heart of the defence, while Alex Iwobi is expected to feature in the attacking third. Samuel Chukwueze, who spent last season on loan at Craven Cottage before returning to his parent club, looks likely to start on the wing, giving the Cottagers strong representation across multiple areas of the pitch.
In midfield, Chelle is expected to lean on the experience of Frank Onyeka and Wilfred Ndidi to control the tempo of the match, while Hull City's Semi Ajayi also returns to bolster the defensive options after previously featuring for the national side.
The predicted lineup for Nigeria reads: Okonkwo; Aina, Ajayi, Bassey, Fredricks; Ndidi, F. Onyeka; Iwobi, Lookman, Chukwueze; Arokodare, though changes could still occur before kickoff depending on Chelle's final assessment of his options in the absence of Osimhen.
The match represents an important opportunity for Nigeria to demonstrate progress under Chelle following a turbulent period for the national team. With several Premier League regulars in the squad and a blend of experience and emerging talent, the Super Eagles will be looking to secure a positive result in Uyo as they attempt to rebuild momentum heading into the next international window.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.