Onyedika injury update: Will Super Eagles star miss Nigeria’s AFCON qualifiers?

Raphael Onyedika has received positive news after suffering a late shoulder problem during Eintracht Frankfurt’s 2-2 draw with SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 25-year-old midfielder needed treatment after a late challenge in the closing stages of Saturday’s match at Deutsche Bank Park, raising concern over his availability for Nigeria’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Onyedika started in midfield for Eintracht Frankfurt against Freiburg and played almost the entire match before the shoulder problem appeared in the final minutes.

The incident came in the 91st minute when Onyedika was involved in a duel with Freiburg substitute Lucas Höler. The Nigerian was left in obvious pain after hurting his shoulder and needed attention on the pitch.

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Onyedika was able to continue and see out the closing moments before the final whistle. The match itself ended 2-2 after Frankfurt twice took the lead.

Younes Ebnoutalib put Frankfurt ahead in the 10th minute, but Derry Scherhant equalised for Freiburg in the 34th minute. Jonathan Burkardt restored Frankfurt’s advantage two minutes later before Yuito Suzuki scored in the 48th minute to make it 2-2.

Freiburg arrived in Frankfurt with three wins from their first three Bundesliga matches and left with another point, keeping Julian Schuster’s side unbeaten after four league games. Frankfurt, meanwhile, moved to five points from four matches.

Shoulder problem will not stop Onyedika from joining Nigeria

LigaInsider, citing the Wiesbadener Kurier, reports that Onyedika did not suffer a serious injury and can travel as planned to join the Super Eagles squad. The report also states that there is no obstacle to his involvement with Nigeria during the international break.

That means the midfielder is expected to be available for Nigeria’s opening two matches in the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.

Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle named Onyedika in his 24-man squad for the qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. Nigeria will face Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25, before travelling to trade tackles with Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday.

Onyedika is one of only four midfielders invited by Chelle for the AFCON qualifiers, with others being Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyedika.

Chelle’s plans were hit by injuries to Tochukwu Nnadi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Alhassan Yusuf while the Malian tactician overlooked Monza youngster Ebenezer Akinsanmiro.