Frank Onyeka’s latest injury scare has created another headache for Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, with Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign fast approaching. The Coventry City midfielder was forced off during Sunday’s 5-0 Premier League defeat to Brighton at the Coventry Building Society Arena, after starting the encounter and playing 73 minutes.
Onyeka had only recently returned to action after recovering from an earlier injury, making his latest setback particularly concerning for Nigeria. The 28-year-old had been considered an important option in Chelle’s midfield for the September qualifiers, but the extent of the latest knock remains unclear. Any prolonged absence would further complicate Chelle’s plans, especially with Marseille midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi already ruled out of the September AFCON qualifiers through injury.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to face Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on Wednesday, September 23, before travelling to Morocco to face Guinea-Bissau in their second Group L fixture on Sunday, September 27. With Onyeka now a doubt, Chelle could be forced to reshuffle a midfield that has already lost Nnadi, increasing the importance of experienced players such as Wilfred Ndidi and Raphael Onyedika. Both have previously featured in Chelle’s midfield plans, while Ndidi remains one of Nigeria’s most experienced options in the position.
Alhassan Yusuf could also emerge as one of the biggest beneficiaries if Onyeka is ruled out. Yusuf impressed during Nigeria’s Unity Cup campaign, scoring twice in the final against Jamaica, and has already been identified as one of the leading options to fill the gap created by Nnadi’s absence. Samson Tijani, who also worked in Chelle’s midfield during the Unity Cup, could provide another energetic option, while Ebenezer Akinsanmiro offers a more creative alternative.
For now, Chelle will be hoping Onyeka’s injury is not serious enough to keep him out of the qualifiers. But if the Coventry midfielder’s condition worsens or rules him out, Ndidi, Onyedika and Yusuf appear to be the leading candidates to absorb his minutes, with Tijani and Akinsanmiro providing additional depth. The situation gives Chelle another selection problem to solve just days before Nigeria begin their AFCON qualifying campaign.
