2 players set to miss the international friendlies for Nigeria

Reports now indicate that 2 of the 26 players invited by the NFF for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, would be missing out on the friendlies scheduled for the international break due to injury.

Premier League stars Gabriel Osho of Luton Town FC and Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest are both set to miss out on the two friendlies for the Super Eagles of Nigeria scheduled for the international break.

Nigeria's interim coach, George Finidi, will be without the services of Gabriel Osho for the national team's upcoming friendlies against Ghana's Black Stars and Mali's Eagles later this month. Osho was unable to join the Nigeria squad at their training camp in Marrakesh, Morocco, as he did not receive the medical clearance.

The former Reading development squad captain was hoping to make his debut for Nigeria's senior national team in March, nine years after he was dropped from the Golden Eaglets squad to the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury during the Hatters' 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace and was substituted in the 79th minute. Due to the injury, he was not named in the travelling squad to Bournemouth on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

The team would also be without Taiwo Awoniyi for the second time following his absence at AFCON 2023 also due to injury.

It has been confirmed that Taiwo Awoniyi won't be able to play for Nigeria in the upcoming international matches after he picked up an injury just before Nottingham Forest's English Premier League game against Luton Town.

There are reports indicating that Awoniyi may not be able to play until April, which rules him out of Nigeria's friendlies against Ghana and Mali later this month. The extent of the injury is yet to be confirmed, but the Nottingham Forest manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, has stated that the striker's injury is a significant setback for the team.

Replacements have not been confirmed but many are hopeful both stars would still be available for the team to kick start their AFCON 2025 campaign as well as their World Cup 2026 qualifiers run.

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