In a turn of events for Nigeria’s national football team, Trabzonspor striker Paul Onuachu has been called up to fill the void left by the injured Umar Sadiq for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Sadiq suffered a knee injury during Nigeria’s recent friendly match against Guinea, forcing him out of contention for the highly anticipated tournament. This setback has paved the way for Onuachu, who was initially overlooked for the final squad despite being in the provisional 40-man list.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) now faces the task of securing approval from Onuachu’s Turkish club, Trabzonspor, before submitting his name to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for official inclusion in the squad.
Notably, this isn’t the first time Onuachu has encountered AFCON-related setbacks. The 29-year-old forward missed out on the 2021 AFCON due to an injury. However, he was part of the Super Eagles squad that clinched third place in the AFCON finals held in Egypt.
With Onuachu’s addition, Nigerian fans are hopeful that his prowess will bolster the team’s attacking force and contribute to their quest for AFCON glory. As the tournament draws nearer, all eyes will be on Onuachu as he aims to make a significant impact on the biggest stage of African football.
