Africa Cup of Nations
AFCON qualifiers: Osimhen ruled out as injury recovery takes longerI
Nigeria has suffered a major attacking setback ahead of their opening AFCON qualifiers, with Victor Osimhen ruled out after failing to recover from a muscle strain in time for the international window.
The Galatasaray striker was initially included in Éric Chelle’s squad because there was still hope that he would recover sufficiently to return to club action before reporting for national-team duty.
That possibility was dependent on the Nigeria foward being fit enough to feature against Trabzonspor in which he was not.
His absence from Galatasaray’s squad for the Turkish Super Lig fixture has now confirmed that the striker will not be available when Nigeria begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
AFCON qualifiers came too soon for Osimhen
Super Eagles officials explained that Osimhen’s recovery had simply not progressed quickly enough.
“Victor Osimhen‘s recovery from a muscle strain has been slower than expected,” the official said.
The striker was nevertheless named in Chelle’s original squad because there was a possibility that his condition would improve before the international window.
The timing leaves Nigeria facing their opening qualifiers without the striker who has been one of their most important attacking figures in recent years.
Chelle must now prepare for Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau without waiting for his Key-man recovery.
The immediate priority is to find the attacking combination capable of leading Nigeria through the two-match window.
Whilst the focus for Osimhen remains on completing his rehabilitation and returning to competitive football when he is fully fit.
Nigeria’s AFCON qualifiers begin in Uyo on September 25, with Madagascar providing the first test before the Super Eagles travel to Guinea-Bissau four days later.
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