Nigeria lose Tochukwu Nnadi for 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign

Nigeria will be without Tochukwu Nnadi when their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign begins in September. The Marseille midfielder has undergone an MRI scan after suffering a knee injury and is certain to miss the Super Eagles’ opening matches.

Nnadi is due to have further examinations to establish the full extent of the problem. There are concerns that the injury may be serious enough to keep him out for the rest of the season, although no final diagnosis has been given.

Nigeria start their qualifying schedule with a home match against Madagascar in Uyo on 23 September. They will face Madagascar again four days later, with the second meeting taking place away from home. Nnadi will not be available for either fixture.

His absence adds to Nigeria’s growing list of concerns before the qualifiers. Left-back Zaidu Sanusi has already been ruled out after picking up an injury while playing for Portuguese club FC Porto last weekend.

Midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is also unavailable at present because of an injury that has kept him out of Lazio’s matches. His participation in the September fixtures remains uncertain.

Striker Sadiq Umar will not be involved either after sustaining a knock. The forward scored for Valencia in LaLiga over the weekend, but the injury means he joins Sanusi and Nnadi among the confirmed absences for the start of Nigeria’s bid to reach the 2027 AFCON.