Chelle gets Onyeka boost amid midfield injury woes

Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka

Nigeria have received encouraging injury news ahead of their upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, with Coventry City midfielder Frank Onyeka back in the Super Eagles squad, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Onyeka returned to action during Coventry’s 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night at the Coventry Building Society Arena, coming on as a substitute in the 73rd minute for Caleb Yirenkyi.

The 28-year-old midfielder had previously been rated doubtful for the back-to-back AFCON qualifiers and the international friendly against Russia after sustaining a hand injury in the second half of Coventry’s 5-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion the previous weekend, having appeared to pick up the injury after colliding with a Brighton player.

However, the issue that forced him off proved less serious than initially feared, with manager Frank Lampard naming the former FC Midtjylland midfielder in the matchday squad for the visit of Aston Villa.

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Although he did not start, his 17-minute cameo off the bench, in which he picked up a yellow card, confirmed he is healthy and ready for Super Eagles duty.

The Super Eagles will begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign this month, hosting Madagascar on September 25 before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau on September 29.

Chelle announced his final squad on Thursday.

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