Super Eagles AFCONQ Squad : Genk's Onuachu, Galatasaray's Onyekuru Replace French-based duo

Published: March 17, 2021

The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed on Wednesday that Bordeaux star Samuel Kalu and Nantes winger Moses Simon are unlikely to travel to Africa for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against the Republic of Benin and Lesotho.

French clubs are set to block African players from representing their countries during the next international break because they will be required to observe a mandatory seven-day isolation upon their return to France due to the COVID-19 laws guiding the country.

Kalu had been rated as doubtful before the Nigerian Federation and manager Gernot Rohr took the decision to erase his name from the 24-man roster after he sustained an injury in the first half of Bordeaux's 3-1 win at Dijon on Sunday.

Racing Genk striker Paul Onuachu and Galatasaray winger Henry Onyekuru have been called up as replacements for Simon and Kalu respectively.

The two players had been placed on standby on the original list of invited players announced on March 9.

Onyekuru has been rewarded with a late invitation after rediscovering his goalscoring touch since returning to Galatasaray for a third spell, with a goal involvement of seven (5 goals, 2 assists) in his first nine league matches.

The Monaco loanee has been in the international wilderness for close to two years, with his last appearance coming against Algeria in the semifinals of the 2019 AFCON.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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