Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau after failing to recover from a muscle injury, Bold Sports reports
Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe confirmed the striker’s unavailability on Saturday following further communication between Galatasaray and Nigeria head coach Éric Chelle.
Osimhen was included in the 24-man squad announced for the two qualifiers despite sustaining the injury earlier this month. Galatasaray and the Super Eagles’ technical crew had hoped he would recover in time to feature for the Turkish champions against Trabzonspor before joining the national team.
However, his absence from Galatasaray’s squad for the Süper Lig encounter confirmed that his recovery had taken longer than expected.
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“Victor Osimhen’s recovery from a muscle strain has been slower than expected,” Efoghe said in an update shared on the Super Eagles media platform.
“He was included in Nigeria’s squad for the AFCON qualifiers because Galatasaray and the Super Eagles technical crew were hopeful he would be fit for the Süper 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 Éric Chelle that the striker is still recovering and will not be ready for Nigeria’s matches.”
The development is a major setback for Chelle ahead of Nigeria’s opening two matches in the qualification campaign.
The Super Eagles will host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25, before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, September 29.
Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare and George Ilenikhena are the other recognised centre-forwards in the squad, while Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze and Moses Usor provide further attacking options.
The Nigeria Football Federation has not announced whether another player will be invited to replace Osimhen.
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