Frank Onyeka has returned to action for Coventry City after an injury scare, giving Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle a welcome boost ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming AFCON qualifiers.
The midfielder was back on the pitch on Wednesday night as Coventry suffered a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup.
Onyeka started the season as an important part of Frank Lampard’s midfield but was forced off during Coventry’s 5-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday after appearing to hurt his hand.
The incident raised concerns over his availability for Nigeria, especially with Chelle preparing for the Super Eagles’ September fixtures.
However, Onyeka was passed fit to face Aston Villa and came off the bench in the second half. He played the final minutes of the match, confirming that the injury was not serious enough to keep him out for long.
The return will come as good news for Chelle, who is already monitoring fitness concerns involving other midfielders.
Nigeria are preparing to face Madagascar and Guinea Bissau in their opening two matches of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Onyeka is expected to remain an important option for the Super Eagles, having established himself as a regular member of the national team in recent years.
The 28 year old joined Coventry permanently this summer after initially helping the club secure promotion during his loan spell from Brentford last season.
His quick return from the hand problem means he can now focus on getting back to full match fitness as Nigeria prepare for the international window.
As for Chelle, seeing Onyeka back on the pitch removes one concern from his midfield selection ahead of the qualifiers.
