Racing Genk of Belgium striker, Paul Ebere Onuachu has for the second time running gained a step-up into the main list of Super Eagles’ due to the impending absence of an injured player, megasportsarena.com reports.
Just as it was for last month’s international friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia, when the former FC Ebedei of Shagamu and FC Myddtylland of Denmark lanky lad was invited in place of SSC Napoli of Italy star, Victor Osimhen, whose club was hit with a coronavirus scare, Onuachu is this time out stepping in for FC Nantes of France winger, Moses Simon.
Simon copped a scary injury in action last weekend against Paris-Saint Germaine and, though officials at his club believe the knock is not as serious as initially thought, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have moved fast in replacing him with Onuachu, who was named to the stand-by list in the originaal roster announced last week.
The NFF on Monday announced Onuachu’s late invitation, after it was ascertained that Simon will not be fit in time for two upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sierra Leone on November 13 in Benin City and November 17 in Freetown.
Simon was forced out of this weekend’s French Ligue 1 clash early in the first half after suffered a groin injury, thereby given way to Onuachu, who was also a late replacement for Osimhen for last month’s friendlies, after the Napoli star could not travel out of Italy following an outbreak of COVID-19 at his Serie A club.
It is another major leap for Onuachu, who struggled for form when he started against Algeria, and he was subsequently placed on standby for the AFCON qualifiers against Sierra Leone, but his performances with Genk have been top-notch and he currently leads the chart in Belgium with nine goals from 10 league games.
