Onyekuru called up as a replacement for injured Samuel Kalu ahead of Nation Cup qualifiers

FORMER Everton striker Henry Onyekuru has been called up to the Super Eagles as a replacement for injured Bordeaux winger Samuel Kalu ahead of the impending African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho later this month.

Kalu was one of the 24 players head coach Gernot Rohr invited to prosecute both games taking place on March 27 and 30 but has had to pull out of the squad after picking up an injury.  Kalu suffered a thigh injury in Bordeaux’s Ligue One clash against Dijon on Sunday and had to be replaced in the 16th minute.

Onyekuru, 23 was one of the seven players placed on standby by Mr Rohr for the games and with the withdrawal has been drafted in as a replacement. Officially owned by French side Monaco, Onyekuru is currently out on loan to Turkish side Galatasaray where he is having a fine season so far.

Scoring over the weekend when Galatasaray beat Kayserispor 3-0 in a Turkish Super Lig clash on Saturday, Onyekuru has scored five goals in nine league appearances since joining the club on loan in January. Nigeria's Super Eagles will face Benin Republic at the Stade Charles de Gaulle, Porto Novo on Saturday March 27, before they welcome Lesotho three days later at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.