Chukwueze Injury: Who Replaces Him for the Super Eagles?
With Chukwueze, Tella, Azeez and Yohanna all reported unavailable, Eric Chelle must pick a right-sided player for two games Nigeria cannot afford to drop.
Nigeria’s right flank has a problem two weeks before a double-header they badly need to win.
Samuel Chukwueze felt pain in his left hip after AC Milan’s 3-2 win over Atalanta, Afrik-Foot reported (opens in a new tab). He has seen a specialist and started a course of injections. Italian media, including Sport Mediaset and Corriere della Sera, put the layoff at two months or more, according to the same report. Milan will reassess him in 10 to 15 days, and surgery could become an option if the treatment does not work. The 27-year-old is not expected back before the end of 2026.
THE OPTIONS ARE THIN
Chukwueze is not the only absence. Afrik-Foot’s latest report (opens in a new tab) says Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen), Femi Azeez and Zadok Yohanna (both Brighton) are also unavailable because of fitness problems. That leaves Moses Usor, Philip Otele and Abubakar Umar as the names in contention for the right.
THE CASE FOR USOR
Usor has the strongest claim on recent evidence. Afrik-Foot reported that Chelle replaced Chukwueze with Usor at half-time against Madagascar, and Usor scored the winner. Chelle said the change was not injury-related and that Chukwueze looked tired. In Bissau, Voice of Nigeria reported (opens in a new tab) that Nigeria livened up when Usor and Moses Simon came on at half-time.
That matters because ThisDay’s report (opens in a new tab) described Chelle starting Taiwo Awoniyi and Akor Adams up front with no wide players. The lesson from September is that Nigeria need width from the first minute, not only from the bench.
THE COUNTERPOINT
Usor has only two senior caps. Otele has five and, according to OwnGoal Nigeria, has been invited as Chukwueze’s replacement. Umar impressed on his senior debut in the 3-3 draw with Russia on 6 October. Chelle may prefer experience over a hot streak, and two games against a team that has already qualified are not the place to gamble on a debut starter. Both sides of that argument are fair.
OUR VIEW
Chukwueze’s injury hurts, but it forces a decision Chelle should have made anyway: start a genuine wide player. Whoever gets the nod, the test on 13 November is simple. Does Nigeria have someone stretching the pitch from the first whistle?
YOUR TURN
Who should start on the right against Tanzania: Usor, Otele or Umar? Vote below and tell us why.
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