AFCON qualifiers: Rohr drafts Onuachu, Onyekuru into main Super Eagles squad

NIGERIA’S top scoring player in Europe this season Paul Onuachu has finally been included in the Super Eagles squad for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho.

The Eagles face Benin Republic in Porto Novo on 27 March and welcome Lesotho to Lagos three days later.

Despite scoring an astonishing 27 goals in 30 games for KRC Genk in Belgium, Onuachu was considered only good enough for a place in the standby list by Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr.

However, the tall striker has now been drafted to the main squad as uncertainty surrounds the availability of Nantes forward Moses Simon.

French clubs are taking a hard stance towards the release of players due to the risks of contracting Covid-19 on their travels.

“Following the uncertainty regarding the availability of players based in France (due to COVID 19 laws guiding the country), Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has extended invitation to KRC Genk striker Paul Onuachu,” the Nigeria Football Federation announced on Wednesday.

The body also stated that in-form Galatasaray forward Henry Onyekuru, who was also on standby, will replace the injured Bordeaux forward Samuel Kalu.

The Super Eagles lead their qualifying group with eight points from four games and need just one win from their two remaining games to guarantee passage to the 2022 AFCON scheduled for Cameroon.