Osimhen ruled out of Super Eagles’ AFCON qualifiers

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Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen will miss Nigeria’s opening two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau after failing to recover from a muscle strain.

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The Nigeria national team confirmed his withdrawal on Saturday after the Galatasaray forward was absent from his club’s 4-0 defeat to Trabzonspor in the Turkish Süper Lig.

According to the Super Eagles media team, Osimhen’s recovery has taken longer than initially expected.

“Victor Osimhen’s recovery from a muscle strain has been slower than expected. He was included in Nigeria’s squad for the AFCON qualifiers because Galatasaray and Super Eagles technical crew were hopeful he would be fit for the Super Lig game versus Trabzonspor and ready for the international window. But his absence from tonight’s match confirms Galatasaray’s correspondence to Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle that the striker is still recovering and will not be ready for Nigeria’s matches.”

Osimhen was named in Éric Chelle’s 24-man squad for the qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau when the list was announced on Thursday.

Nigeria will host Madagascar’s Barea at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on Friday, 25 September, before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau’s Wild Dogs on Tuesday, 29 September.

His withdrawal leaves Chelle without one of his main attacking options as Nigeria begin their qualification campaign.

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Injury setback

Osimhen suffered the injury during Galatasaray’s 3-2 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir on 4 September, scoring before leaving the match after 33 minutes.

Galatasaray subsequently announced that medical examinations revealed a moderate-to-advanced strain, with bleeding, in his right adductor muscle group, and that treatment had begun.

The injury has already kept him out of Galatasaray’s Champions League meeting with Sporting CP and a Süper Lig fixture against Kocaelispor.

His absence from Saturday’s match against Trabzonspor effectively ended hopes that he would recover in time to join Nigeria for the September international window.

READ ALSO: Iheanacho equals Bursaspor record as Super Eagles striker continues stunning run in Turkey

Osimhen’s inclusion in Chelle’s initial squad had reflected the expectation that he could recover in time. The NFF’s announcement listed him alongside captain Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, and Moses Simon as one of the established players retained for the qualifiers.

Chelle has attacking options

With Osimhen unavailable, Chelle still has several attacking options in the squad, including Lookman, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare, George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor.

Nigeria are grouped with Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania in the 2027 AFCON qualifying series. Tanzania, as one of the tournament co-hosts, already have an automatic place at the finals, leaving the qualifying race in the group to determine the other participant.