More trouble for Peseiro? Super Eagles star withdraws from Nigerian duty over groin concern

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are slated to tackle Zimbabwe in Huye on Sunday for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification tie

Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been compelled to withdraw from international duty due to a recurring groin issue, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Super Eagles featured for Jose Peseiro’s men against Lesotho, and was trusted to fill the void left by Victor Osimhen who is also recovering from an injury he picked against Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Awoniyi, as confirmed on the Super Eagles page, has been forced to withdraw from the squad which would hand the Portuguese tactician more selection choice ahead of their clash against the Warriors.

However, the injury setback faced by Awoniyi is becoming a big concern for Nottingham Forest, given the forward’s recent return from a similar injury.

The striker, who has contributed four goals and two assists for Steve Cooper’s side this season, faces the prospect of another spell on the sidelines following his departure from the Nigeria squad.

In a statement released on the Super Eagles’ official page on X (formerly known as Twitter), it was revealed that Awoniyi will return to England for proper medical care.

The statement reads: “Taiwo Awoniyi has departed for his base due to discomfort in the groin and will return to England tonight following consultations between his club’s medical staff and the Super Eagles’ medical team.”

The striker’s absence poses a potential setback for Nigeria and Forest, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming crucial Zimbabwe encounter for Nigeria and English Premier League matches for Steve Cooper’s men.

Nottingham will await further updates on Awoniyi’s condition, hoping for a swift recovery to bolster their attacking options for the upcoming fixtures.

Ayomide Oguntimehin

Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and an Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a proven track record in conducting interviews with Super Eagles stars such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and many others. He has also made a significant impact in breaking transfer news stories. Grounded in video editing, video journalism, social media management, and content strategy, Ayomide brings a wealth of expertise to his work. With a Bachelor's degree in English Language from Adeyemi College of Education and a Master's Degree in School Library and Media Technology from the University of Ibadan, Ayomide is well-prepared to excel in the field.

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  • I BELIEVE THAT BY NOW, PASEIRO SHOULD HAVE LEARN HIS LESSONS FOR ERRORS HE WAS MAKING IN INVITING WRONG PLAYERS { inviting benchwarmer, inconsistent , irrelevant players (IZOHO,ARIBO, SADIQ ), carried away with club performance alone (AWONIYI), and using EGO, SENIORITY & EXPERIENCE without fitness ( OMERUO)}. FOR PLAYERS INVITATIONS
    ** TAIWO AWONIYI IS NOT ALWAYS BE CONVINCING WHEN PLAYING FOR NATIONAL TEAM, WE ARE ONLY BE DECEIVED & CARRIED AWAY WITH CLUBS PERFORMANCE.
    THE POTENTIALITY OF CYRIEL DESSERS AND CHUBA AKPOM (BOTH FORMER TOP SCORER IN RESPECTIVE CLUBS)I S FAR FAR BETTER AWONIYI, AND SADIQ UMAR

  • Concerning news! The withdrawal of a Super Eagles star due to a groin concern raises questions about Peseiro's challenges. Team health and management strategies become pivotal in this developing situation

  • the biggest mistake Nigeria makes is to allow Wilfred Ndidi to escape from playing for some flimsy club or injury reasons. Anytime he plays we do best, and anytime he is not there we failed. When will Paseiro REALISE this ?
    This was what happened last time Ghana won us here in Nigeria when we were having a plus. Ndidi IS the team!

  • Nigeria has many good and talented players across the globe right now. Paseiro know what he is doing there... He has no reason to fail Nigerians. Playing a draw against an unknown Lesotho at home....hmmmmm... I keep wandering what the result would be against south Africa

  • I find the feedback you provide to be very helpful. Because of the significance of this event, I will be praying that everything goes off without a hitch.

  • It's disappointing to see Taiwo Awoniyi withdraw from international duty due to injury, especially with Nigeria's important match against Zimbabwe coming up. Wishing him a speedy recovery! Also, don't miss out on the exciting updates from Pokerogue and Pokerogue Dex in the gaming world!

  • It’s unfortunate that Taiwo Awoniyi is out of international duty due to injury, especially with Nigeria’s crucial match against Zimbabwe approaching. We wish him a quick recovery! Stay updated with exciting news from Pokerogue and Pokerogue Dex in the gaming world. Don’t forget to check out Monkey Mart for more gaming updates!

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