Awoniy may miss the Lesotho and Zimbabwe games, and Onuachu scores in Turkey Simon is Nantes Player of the Month
Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has cast doubt on the availability of Taiwo Awoniyi for Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
Awoniyi recently returned to action for the Tricky Trees following a short-term injury layoff.
The 26-year-old came on as a second-half substitute in the 3-0 defeat at Liverpool last weekend.
Nigeria head coach Jose Peseiro is expected to include the striker in his squad for games against the Crocodiles and Warriors.
Cooper is, however, not certain he will allow Awoniyi to travel down to Nigeria for the qualifiers.
“The question of international duty [for Awoniyi] is a conversation for next week,” Cooper told the Nottingham Post.
“At the moment, we are just focusing on what we might be able to get out of him this weekend [against Aston Villa].”
The Super Eagles will face Lesotho at the Godswill Akpabio International, Uyo, on Thursday, November 16.
The three-time African champions will then take on Zimbabwe four days later.
In Turkey, Paul Onuachu scored the curtain-raiser in Trabzonspor’s 3-2 win at Fenerbahce on Saturday night.
Onuachu struck after 10 minutes, with the visitors racing to a 3-0 lead within 47 minutes.
Dusan Tadic replied with two goals for the hosts but they were unable to find the leveller.
Onuachu, who is on loan at Trabzonspor from Southampton, has now scored four goals in seven league outings for the club.
His compatriot, Bright Osayi-Samuel, also featured for Trabzonspor in the game.
Elsewhere, Moses Simon has won Nantes’ Player of the Month award for October.
Simon made four appearances for Nantes in the month and provided one assist.
The Nigeria international scored 39.67% votes to beat three other players to the award.
Florent Mollet (28.6%,)Pedro Chirivella (20.75%) and Marcus Coco ((10.98%).) to the individual accolades.
The 28-year-old has scored two goals and provided four assists in 10 league appearances for the Canaries this season.
He is expected to be included in the Super Eagles squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
