Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Super Eagles have confirmed that Victor Osimhen will miss Nigeria's opening two fixtures in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, after the striker's recovery from a muscle strain proved slower than initially anticipated. The 27-year-old forward, who has been in imperious form for Galatasaray this season, was forced off during the Turkish club's 3-2 victory away to Istanbul Başakşehir on September 4, and medical examinations subsequently confirmed a moderate to advanced strain involving bleeding in his right adductor muscle group.
The Nigeria Football Federation included Osimhen in head coach Eric Chelle's 24-man squad for the September international window, with both the national team's technical crew and Galatasaray's medical staff optimistic that he would regain full fitness in time for the qualifiers. His inclusion was officially confirmed when the squad was released on September 17. However, those hopes were dashed when the striker was not named in Galatasaray's matchday squad for their Turkish Super Lig encounter against Trabzonspor on Saturday, September 19, a fixture that had been regarded as a key indicator of whether he would be ready for the international break.
Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe confirmed the development in a statement released on Sunday morning, ending speculation about the striker's availability. "Victor Osimhen's recovery from a muscle strain has been slower than expected," Efoghe said. "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." The statement made it clear that the decision to exempt Osimhen from the matches was taken after his continued absence from Galatasaray's squad confirmed the club's earlier communication to the Nigerian technical crew that he was still undergoing rehabilitation.
The injury occurred in the 33rd minute of Galatasaray's dramatic 3-2 win over their Istanbul rivals, a match in which Osimhen had already scored a stunning goal before being forced to leave the pitch clutching his inner thigh. He was accompanied by club doctors as he hobbled off, and subsequent scans at Acıbadem Hospital revealed an advanced-moderate level strain involving bleeding and muscle damage in the right adductor muscle group. Galatasaray initially projected a recovery period of approximately three weeks, a timeline that would have potentially allowed him to feature in the qualifiers had everything gone to plan. But the recovery has been more complicated than expected, and the club, mindful of his previous injury problems, decided against rushing him back into action.
The decision to withdraw Osimhen from the qualifiers was reached amicably between the NFF and Galatasaray, with both parties agreeing that allowing the striker to remain in Turkey during the international break was the safer option. Reports from Turkish media indicated that Osimhen had made good progress in his rehabilitation, but the club believed that granting him additional recovery time would reduce the risk of a setback and ensure his availability for the crucial fixtures ahead. The arrangement allows Osimhen to continue his rehabilitation at Galatasaray's facilities, working towards a return to full fitness without the pressure of international commitments.
Osimhen's absence represents a significant blow to Nigeria's attacking options for the start of their qualifying campaign. Before suffering the injury, the former Napoli star had started the season in sensational form, scoring six goals and providing two assists across four league appearances for the Turkish champions. His ability to create and convert chances has been central to Galatasaray's early-season success, and his absence from the Super Eagles squad leaves a considerable void in the team's offensive arsenal. Head coach Eric Chelle will now have to rely on other forwards, with Tolu Arokodare, Akor Adams and George Ilenikhena among the options who could be given increased responsibility in Osimhen's absence.
Nigeria will begin their qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, with a home fixture against Madagascar's Barea at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25. Four days later, the three-time African champions will travel to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau's Djurtus in their second Group L match. The Super Eagles will then head to the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Russia for an international friendly on October 6, a match that could serve as an opportunity for Chelle to further assess his squad options and fine-tune his tactical approach ahead of the remainder of the qualifying series.
For Nigeria, the immediate priority is to secure maximum points from the opening two fixtures without their leading striker. The Super Eagles boast a deep pool of attacking talent, but Osimhen's combination of physicality, pace and clinical finishing is difficult to replicate. His absence will place additional pressure on the midfield to create chances and on the supporting forwards to shoulder the goalscoring burden. Chelle will also be hoping that his defensive unit remains resolute, as the team cannot afford to be drawn into high-scoring contests without their most reliable source of goals.
For Osimhen, the focus now shifts to his rehabilitation and eventual return to action for Galatasaray. The Turkish club has invested heavily in the striker, who joined from Napoli, and will be eager to have him back on the pitch as soon as he is fully recovered. The decision to keep him in Turkey during the international break reflects a long-term approach aimed at ensuring his physical wellbeing and avoiding the kind of recurring injuries that can derail a player's career. At 27, Osimhen remains one of Africa's most potent forwards, and Nigeria will need him at full fitness for the crucial stages of the qualifying campaign and beyond.
The coming weeks will reveal whether the decision to rest Osimhen was the correct one. If Nigeria secures maximum points against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau and Osimhen returns to action for Galatasaray without any further complications, the gamble will have paid off. But if the Super Eagles stumble in his absence or if his rehabilitation extends longer than expected, questions will inevitably be asked about whether the striker could have been risked. For now, however, the priority is the player's health and the team's collective effort. Nigeria's journey towards the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations begins on September 25 in Uyo, and the Super Eagles will have to navigate the early hurdles without their talismanic striker.
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