AFCON qualifiers: Paul Onuachu gets late invitation
Paul Onuachu has received a late call-up to the Nigeria squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers back-to-back games against Sierra Leone after the withdrawal of Moses Simon due to injury.
Onuachu was left out of the original 24-man squad, but will now get the chance to win more caps for the Super Eagles following his late invitation for the double header.
The Genk man replaces Simon, who was forced off the pitch with an injury during Nantes’ 3-0 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.
.@NGSuperEagles update: Paul Onuachu has been called up as replacement for injured @Simon27Moses #SoarSuperEagles #Team9jaStrong pic.twitter.com/kovuDLshHZ
— The NFF 🇳🇬 (@thenff) November 2, 2020
Onuachu was part of the Nigeria squad for friendlies in Austria last month.
He started in the match against Algeria but — after failing to impress Nigeria boss Gernot Rohr — was dropped for the Tunisia tie, which came four days after the Foxes’ game.
The 26-year-old, who scored on his Nigeria debut — a 1-0 win over Egypt in 2019 — has netted two goals in three Jupiler Pro League games for Genk since returning from the last international break.
Despite an brilliant club form, it remains to be seen whether Rohr will choose the former FC Midtjylland forward ahead of the other strikers in the squad — Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Neither Osimhen nor the Leicester striker has matched Onuachu in terms of club performances this season, but it looks unlikely Rohr show faith in the 6ft 7in man during the upcoming matches.
Nigeria will host the Leone Stars at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on November 13 before traveling to Freetown for the reverse fixture four days later.
The two-time champions top group L with six points — three clear of second-placed Benin Republic — following wins against their neighbors and Lesotho.