By Eniwoke Ibagere BBC Sport, Abuja

Aghahowa (right) heads to Germany for surgery

Super Eagles striker Julius Aghahowa will miss Nigeria's crucial African Nations Cup qualifier against Malawi due to injury.

Nigeria Football Association (NFA) secretary-general Taiwo Ogunjobi told BBC Sport Aghahowa telephoned to inform them he was heading to Germany for an operation on his "damaged ankle."

"I told him we understand the situation.

Since he cannot give 100 percent in the match, it's better to leave him out," Ogunjobi said.

The NFA is awaiting a confirmation via a medical report from the striker's Ukrainian club Shaktar Donetsk, he added.

Aghahowa, a vital member of the Eagles, was named in an 18-man squad for the trip to Blantyre to take on "The Flames" on 29 March.

Ogunjobi said team coach Christian Chukwu had been informed of Aghahowa's absence from the match.

Captain Austin "Jay-Jay" Okocha and defender Joseph Yobo, citing club commitments, said they were uncertain of their availability for the tie.

The Nigerians already have their squad weakened by the non-invitation of striker Nwankwo Kanu and wing-back Celestine Babayaro.

According to Ogunjobi, Chukwu named four players on stand-by to replace those unlikely to honour invitations.

All four - strikers Ishola Shuaibu and Uche Ugochukwu and defenders Benedict Idahor and Bob Osim - play for domestic clubs.

The NFA secretary-general said the Eagles' coaches and home-based players will depart for Blantyre on Saturday.

"Overseas-based players will make the trip directly to Malawi because our original plan of a high-altitude training camp in Kenya has been cancelled," he said.

Nigeria, with one point, are second in their group behind Malawi, who have three points. Angola are the third team in the group.