Onuachu closes in on a Trabzonspor return as Panathinaikos rest Dessers
Paul Onuachu is back in individual training and could face Gaziantep on Sunday. Cyriel Dessers was rested, not injured, as Panathinaikos beat Aris 2-1 in the Greek Cup.
By TuSport Desk · 28 Oct 2026, 18:45 WAT
Two of Nigeria's strikers were in the news on Wednesday, a fortnight before the Super Eagles' AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Tanzania.
Paul Onuachu has returned to individual training at Trabzonspor, Afrik-Foot reports, citing the Turkish outlet 61saat. He trained on his own during the squad's two-day break and is expected to rejoin group training once that work is done.
Onuachu was hurt in Trabzonspor's 4-2 Conference League win at KuPS Kuopio on 15 October. He scored in the third minute but went off seven minutes later. He has since missed three games, against Beşiktaş, Hearts and Çaykur Rizespor, and Trabzonspor won all three. The club has not given an official update on the injury.
Trabzonspor host Gaziantep FK at Papara Park on Sunday 1 November, kick-off 14:00 WAT. Afrik-Foot says Onuachu could be back in the squad, but that depends on how he responds to the next stage of his recovery, and the club will not rush him.
Franculino Djú has filled the gap. Sabah reports the 22-year-old forward, signed from Midtjylland, has scored seven goals in eight official games for Trabzonspor, including two in the 4-3 win over Rizespor. Onuachu, who shared the Süper Lig golden boot last season with 22 goals, has two league goals in seven games this season.
In Greece, Cyriel Dessers was left out of Panathinaikos' squad for Wednesday's Greek Cup game against Aris Thessaloniki. Nigeria Football reports that the club confirmed the decision after Tuesday's training and that the striker is not injured. Coach Jacob Neestrup chose to manage his workload after an injury earlier in the season. Dessers has nine goals in 14 games across all competitions, according to that report.
Panathinaikos won 2-1 without him, Novasports reports. Neestrup made ten changes to his starting line-up. Kontouris put the hosts ahead on 10 minutes, Aris equalised through a substitute on 65 minutes, and Elmin Rastoder won it with a late backheel. Panathinaikos have now won all three of their cup games.
Nigeria midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru started for Aris and was replaced after 58 minutes. According to Nigeria Football, he had not started for Aris since a cup game against Marko on 16 September.
Eric Chelle's Nigeria play Tanzania home and away in Group L in the November international window.
Sources: www.afrik-foot.com · www.afrik-foot.com · www.sabah.com.tr · nigeriafootball.ng · www.novasports.gr · www.sporx.com
