AFCON Qualifiers: Rohr Replaces Injured Kalu With Onyekuru

 

By Olayinka Elebute

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has replaced injured Samuel Kalu with Henry Onyekuru for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho later this month.

Kalu was injured in Bordeaux’s 3-1 win at Dijon on Sunday after just 16 minutes.

Bordeaux confirmed Kalu’s injury in a Tweet on their verified Twitter handle during the game.

Kalu was replaced just 16 minutes of the game by Nicolas de Preville.

However, Rohr has reportedly replaced him with Onyekuru who was on the standby list of 24 players released last week.

“Galatasaray’s Henry Onyekuru will replace the injured Samuel Kalu in Super Eagles squad for this month’s #AFCON qualifiers,” former Super Eagles Media Officer, Collin Udoh said on Twitter Monday.

Onyekuru scored two goals on Saturday in Galatasaray’s away win and this may have prompted his invitation by the Franco- German coach.

With Onyekuru replacing Kalu, Rohr has once again left our Paul Onuachu, the highest goal scorer in Europe currently but he is among the standby players named by Rohr for the Eagles’ matches.

Injured Kalu coincidentally scored Nigeria’s winning goal in the 2-1 defeat of the Squirrels of Benin in November 2019 and is considered a key member of Rohr’s starting eleven when fit.

Super Eagles will battle Benin on March 27 and Lesotho three days later in their quest to reach the 2021 AFCON final in Cameroon.

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