Onuachu Replaces Injured Simon For Sierra Leone Clash

Paul Onuachu has been called up to the Super Eagles squad after the withdrawal of Moses Simon because of injury.

Having been initially placed on the standby list last week, the Genk striker will now join the rest of Gernot Rohr’s players next week for the 2021 AFCON qualifying doubleheader against Sierra Leone.

Simon has withdrawn after suffering what appeared to be an ankle problem in Nantes loss to PSG in Ligue 1 at the weekend.

The severity of his injury is unclear and it is not known how long he will be out.

Onuachu has been in excellent form for his Belgian Jupiler side and is Nigeria’s leading scorer in Europe this season with nine goals in ten appearances in all competitions.

The 25-year-old scored his eighth goal in his last seven games in the 4-0 defeat of Eupen at the weekend as he kept up his excellent start to the season.

Yet despite his red hot form, he was initially overlooked by Rohr for the games against Sierra Leone with the Franco-German having previously taken exception to Onuachu’s style of play which he deemed incompatible with his team’s tactical set up.

Rohr had warned the striker must find a way adapt during last month’s international window but Onuachu failed to impress in his first international start in over a year as Nigeria lost to African champions Algeria.

The gangly forward will now have another chance to press his claims when Nigeria take on fellow West Africans Sierra Leone at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on the 17th before travelling to Freetown for the return encounter.

Nigeria lead Group L and victory in both matches against the Leone Stars will all but confirm their place in Cameroon for next year’s continental showpiece.