Osimhen Misses Eagles AFCON Qualifiers Over Lingering Injury

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen will miss Nigeria’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after failing to recover from a lingering groin injury.

The 27-year-old was initially named in Eric Chelle’s squad for the matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

However, his recovery has taken longer than expected, ruling him out of the September international window.

Super Eagles media officer, Promise Efoghe, confirmed the development in a statement released on Sunday morning.

Efoghe said Osimhen’s continued rehabilitation meant he could not join the national team as planned.

“Victor Osimhen’s recovery from a muscle strain has been slower than expected,” Efoghe said.

He explained that Galatasaray and the Super Eagles technical crew had expected the striker to regain fitness before the international break.

Osimhen’s absence from Galatasaray’s matchday squad against Trabzonspor on Saturday further confirmed the situation.

Efoghe said the Turkish club had earlier informed the Eagles’ technical crew that the forward remained in rehabilitation.

“ 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,” he said.

Osimhen last featured for Galatasaray on September 5 against Istanbul Basaksehir.

The striker left the match in the 33rd minute after suffering the injury.

He clutched his left inner thigh before leaving the pitch with assistance from Galatasaray’s medical team.

The Turkish club later provided an update on the injury.

It described the problem as an advanced-moderate strain involving bleeding and strain in the right adductor muscle group.

The injury has now ruled Osimhen out of Nigeria’s first two AFCON qualifying matches.

The Eagles will begin their campaign against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, on September 25.

Nigeria will then travel to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau four days later.

Osimhen’s absence leaves Chelle without one of the key attacking options initially selected for the qualifying campaign.

The forward has been an important part of Nigeria’s recent international plans, but his recovery has not progressed quickly enough for the current fixtures.

After the two qualifiers, Nigeria will face Russia in an international friendly.

The match will take place at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on October 6.

The Eagles’ technical crew will now prepare for the qualifiers without Osimhen as they seek a positive start to their AFCON campaign.

Meanwhile, the striker will continue his rehabilitation at Galatasaray as he works towards a return to competitive action.