SUPER Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau after failing to recover from a groin injury.
The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed his absence on Sunday, September 20, through the Super Eagles’ media officer, Promise Efoghe, saying the Galatasaray forward’s recovery from a muscle strain had been slower than expected.
Osimhen was initially included in Eric Chelle’s squad for the September international window after Galatasaray and the Super Eagles’ technical crew hoped he would recover in time to feature for the Turkish club before joining the national team.
However, his absence from Galatasaray’s matchday squad for Saturday’s Turkish Süper Lig fixture against Trabzonspor confirmed that he would not be available for Nigeria’s qualifiers.
“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.”
Osimhen sustained the injury during Galatasaray’s 3-2 win over Istanbul Basaksehir on September 5.
The 27-year-old striker scored in the 17th minute before being substituted in the 33rd minute after clutching his inner thigh. He was accompanied from the pitch by Galatasaray’s medical team.
Following medical examinations, Galatasaray said Osimhen had suffered an “advanced-moderate level strain” involving the adductor, or groin, muscle group.
The Turkish club did not initially give a definite recovery timeline, leaving the striker doubtful for Nigeria’s opening AFCON qualifiers.
The Super Eagles have now confirmed that the injury will keep him out of both matches.
Nigeria will host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on September 25 before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau four days later.
The team is also scheduled to play Russia in an international friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on October 6.
Osimhen’s latest absence comes after he was included in Chelle’s squads announced for the September and October fixtures.
The Super Eagles media team said the striker would continue his recovery from the muscle strain, while wishing him a speedy recovery.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M