Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has received a timely boost ahead of Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches after Raphael Onyedika was cleared of fears surrounding a shoulder injury.
Onyedika picked up the problem during Eintracht Frankfurt’s 2-2 Bundesliga draw against Freiburg on Saturday, raising concerns over his availability for Nigeria’s upcoming qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
However, the injury has reportedly been assessed as not serious, meaning the midfielder is expected to travel as planned and join the Super Eagles squad for the international break. The positive update will come as a relief to Chelle, who has already seen several midfield options affected by injuries.
The 25-year-old midfielder started Frankfurt’s encounter with Freiburg and played almost the entire match before the injury scare came in the closing stages.
Onyedika was involved in a duel with Freiburg substitute Lucas Höler in the 91st minute and required treatment after appearing to hurt his shoulder. Despite the discomfort, the Nigerian international was able to continue and see out the remaining minutes of the contest.
According to reports citing LigaInsider and the Wiesbadener Kurier, there is no major obstacle to Onyedika joining Nigeria during the international window. The development means Chelle can still count on one of his selected midfielders for the crucial opening fixtures of the AFCON qualification campaign.
The injury scare came after an entertaining contest at Deutsche Bank Park, where Frankfurt twice took the lead but were eventually held to a draw.
Younes Ebnoutalib put Frankfurt ahead in the 10th minute before Derry Scherhant restored parity for Freiburg in the 34th minute. Jonathan Burkardt then restored Frankfurt’s advantage just two minutes later, but Yuito Suzuki scored in the 48th minute to make it 2-2.
Frankfurt ultimately had to settle for a point, leaving the club with five points from four Bundesliga matches. Freiburg, meanwhile, maintained their unbeaten start to the league campaign after another draw.
For Nigeria, Onyedika’s availability is particularly important because Chelle’s midfield options have already been affected by injuries.
Tochukwu Nnadi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Alhassan Yusuf have all been hit by injury concerns, leaving Chelle with a relatively small group of midfielders for the opening AFCON qualifiers.
Onyedika was included among only four midfielders in the coach’s 24-man squad, alongside experienced internationals Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka.
Nigeria are scheduled to begin their qualifying campaign against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25.
The Super Eagles will then travel to Guinea-Bissau for their second qualifying fixture on September 29 as they begin their attempt to secure a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Chelle had initially included Victor Osimhen in his squad, but the Galatasaray striker was subsequently ruled out after failing to recover sufficiently from a right adductor injury. Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi was announced as his replacement for the qualifiers.
The developments have made player fitness a major issue for the Super Eagles ahead of the opening fixtures. While Osimhen’s absence reduces Chelle’s attacking options, having Onyedika available gives the coach another midfield option as he prepares for two important matches in the space of four days.
Nigeria will be hoping for a strong start against Madagascar, especially given the significance of collecting maximum points at home before travelling to Bissau.
The Super Eagles have also been drawn into a qualifying campaign in which every available option could prove valuable, making the latest news surrounding Onyedika particularly welcome.
For now, the Frankfurt midfielder is expected to join the national team as planned, with the shoulder problem reportedly not serious enough to prevent his participation in the international break.
Chelle will nevertheless have to monitor Onyedika closely once he links up with the squad, particularly after the midfielder completed Frankfurt’s match despite requiring treatment late in the game.
With the first qualifier against Madagascar just days away, the news provides the Super Eagles coach with one less fitness concern as Nigeria begin their journey towards the 2027 AFCON in earnest.
