Reviewed by Rahmon OluwoNigeria sports betting writer
Published 11 September 2026 · Updated 24 September 2026
Victor Osimhen misses Nigeria’s opening two AFCON 2027 qualifiers after Galatasaray confirmed a muscle strain, and Paul Onuachu came off injured for Trabzonspor in the same week, leaving Eric Chelle short in the position Nigeria can least afford it.
Update, 20 September 2026: Victor Osimhen was named in Eric Chelle’s twenty four man squad for the qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, then ruled out on 20 September, when the Nigeria Football Federation announced that he had not recovered in time. Taiwo Awoniyi was called up in his place. Paul Onuachu returned to training with Trabzonspor but was not included in the twenty four man squad. There is more in Chelle Names Twenty Four for Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau as Osimhen Misses Out.
Galatasaray confirmed the strain in the days after the injury and put Osimhen’s recovery beyond the international window.
Onuachu was forced off during Trabzonspor’s five nil win over Gençlerbirliği on Sunday. Complete Sports reports that the club’s interim coach, Hüseyin Çimşir, played the injury down and expected him available for their next league match.
The fixtures
Nigeria play Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on 25 September, then Guinea Bissau away on 29 September.
Why a striker shortage costs more in Group L
Group L is Nigeria, Madagascar, Guinea Bissau and Tanzania, and it carries one qualifying place rather than two, because Tanzania are already at the finals as a host country. There is no second place to fall into and no slow start to repair later.
That changes what a home draw in Uyo is worth. In an ordinary group it is a point banked. Here it is a point conceded to whichever of Madagascar or Guinea Bissau wins their own matches.
Chelle has other forwards and Nigeria are not short of attacking options. What they are short of is their first choice centre forward, in the fixture that sets the tone for a campaign with a single route out of it.
Where to bet: AFCON qualifying is priced in naira on SportyBet and Bet9ja, both operating under Nigerian state licences, on match result, both teams to score, correct score and qualification outrights, with deposits through OPay, Moniepoint and bank transfer. Anytime scorer and first scorer lists are the markets that move on team news, so wait for the confirmed team sheet in Uyo rather than taking a price built on a squad that has changed twice. Our guide to the best betting sites in Nigeria covers licensing and withdrawal times, and there is more in Nigeria soccer news. 18+. Gamble responsibly.
