Chelle’s problems pile up as 45-cap Super Eagles midfielder suffers injury

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has another selection headache to deal with after one of his trusted midfielders suffered an injury, Soccernet.ng reports.

​Nigeria return to action later this month for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. Chelle is likely already putting the finishing touches on his squad list and sending call-ups to players and their respective clubs.

​The Franco-Malian tactician is set to call up two separate squads, though the primary focus remains on the AFCON 2027 qualifying group. Chelle is already confirmed to be without Tochukwu Nnadi and Victor Osimhen due to injury, but his fitness concerns could worsen.

​Midfielder Frank Onyeka picked up a knock during Coventry City’s heavy 5–0 defeat against Brighton.

FIVE STAR PERFORMANCE! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ pic.twitter.com/7lLKC8PTp9

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@BHAFC) September 13, 2026

Onyeka put in a solid shift across 73 minutes in the middle of the park for Frank Lampard’s side before appearing to suffer a wrist injury when pushed to the ground by an opponent. As he was visibly in significant discomfort, he was forced off and could not finish the match.

​The full extent of the injury is yet to be confirmed, though further updates are expected in the coming days. Going by his reaction on the pitch, however, the problem looks concerning.

​Super Eagles: Can Eric Chelle Cope Without Frank Onyeka?

​Onyeka has featured consistently under Chelle since the manager took charge of the Super Eagles, even if tactical nuances have kept him from locking down an automatic starting role.

Despite that, Chelle values Onyeka highly for his relentless work rate and defensive discipline. With Nnadi already ruled out, losing Onyeka would represent another noticeable blow to the midfield unit.

​On the bright side, Alhassan Yusuf has emerged as an able alternative, having impressed at the Unity Cup earlier this year. He represents the most logical candidate to fill the void.

​Furthermore, Nigeria are heavily favored to control proceedings against both Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. Chelle may well favor a more proactive, attack-minded setup that relies less on a specialist ball-winner like Onyeka.

​Still, with kickoff less than two weeks away, Chelle will be monitoring Onyeka’s medical report closely.