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According to a report by OwnGoalNigeria on Friday, October 16, 2026, the 24-year-old attacker’s fitness has become a concern for Nigeria’s technical crew as preparations continue for the November double-header against Tanzania.
Usor made an impressive start to his international career, scoring a brilliant individual goal on his Super Eagles debut to help Nigeria defeat Madagascar 2-1 in their opening AFCON qualifying fixture. His performance immediately attracted attention and strengthened his chances of earning further opportunities with the national team.
Following that encouraging display, the forward remained part of Nigeria’s plans for subsequent qualifying matches, including the encounter against Guinea-Bissau and the forthcoming fixtures against Tanzania.
However, his second appearance did not produce the same positive outcome. Nigeria suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau, leaving the team with work to do as they attempt to improve their position in the qualifying campaign.
Despite the setback, Usor continued to be considered an option for the November matches. His recent shoulder injury, however, has created uncertainty about whether he will be fit enough to participate.
The injury reportedly prevented him from featuring in LASK’s 6-3 defeat to Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League. His absence from the European fixture has raised concerns about his immediate condition and the amount of time he may need to recover.
According to the report, Usor is not expected to require surgery, offering some encouragement to both his club and the Nigerian national team. Nevertheless, his availability will depend on how quickly the injury improves in the coming days and whether he can return to full training without complications.
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle will be monitoring the situation closely as he prepares his squad for the crucial qualifying fixtures. Losing the forward would reduce the attacking options available to the coach, particularly after Usor demonstrated his ability to make an impact during his international debut.
The Super Eagles are expected to approach the Tanzania matches with the intention of securing positive results and strengthening their pursuit of qualification for the 2027 AFCON finals.
Nigeria will therefore hope Usor makes a timely recovery, although a final decision on his involvement will depend on his fitness assessment before the fixtures.
His return could provide a useful boost to the team’s attacking strength, but the coaching staff will need to ensure that he is sufficiently recovered before considering him for selection.