TAIWO Awoniyi has been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup qualifier between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Warriors of Zimbabwe tomorrow in Rwanda.
The Nottingham Forest striker started the disappointing 1-1 draw with Lesotho in Uyo on Thursday but was substituted off in the 59th minute as the Super Eagles chased the game.
Awoniyi has now left the team’s camp and returned to England after picking a knock, therefore he was not part of the squad that travelled to Rwanda.
“Taiwo Awoniyi has left for his base due to pain in his groin and returns to England tonight after discussions between his club doctors and the Super Eagles medical team,” the Super Eagles media channel stated last night.
In the absence of Awoniyi and the unavailable Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles still have three players who can play the centre forward role in Victor Boniface, Terem Moffi and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles squad arrived in Rwanda in the early hours of today after departing from Uyo aboard a chartered plane at around midnight.
The match against Zimbabwe will be played at the 20,000-capacity Huye Stadium in Butare, which is about two hours by land from Rwanda’s capital Kigali.
The Warriors are playing their home matches in Rwanda because their stadiums back in Zimbabwe do not meet FIFA and Confederation of African Football standards.
