AFCON 2027 Shocker: Osimhen Sidelined, Nigeria's Qualifiers Face Uphill Battle!
Star striker Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of Nigeria's crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau due to an adductor muscle injury. His prolonged recovery forced his withdrawal from Éric Chelle's squad, posing a significant challenge for the Super Eagles as they seek maximum points in their opening Group D fixtures.
Nigerian international striker Victor Osimhen has officially been ruled out of the Super Eagles' upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches. The 27-year-old forward will miss the crucial Group D fixtures against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau as he continues his recovery from a significant muscle injury.
Osimhen sustained the muscle strain during Galatasaray’s 3-2 away victory over Istanbul Başakşehir on September 4. The injury, described as a moderate-to-advanced strain in his right adductor muscle group involving bleeding, forced him off the pitch in the 33rd minute after he had already opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Since then, he has not featured for the Turkish champions, missing subsequent matches including those against Kocaelispor and Sporting CP.
Despite his fitness concerns, Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle initially included Osimhen in his 24-man squad for the qualifiers. The Nigerian technical team and Galatasaray had harbored hopes that the prolific striker would recover in time, with a potential appearance in Galatasaray's Turkish Super Lig trip to Trabzonspor serving as an important fitness test. However, his recovery has taken longer than anticipated, and he was unable to participate in the Trabzonspor match, indicating he still felt pain.
Consequently, Galatasaray formally communicated with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), stating that Osimhen requires continued treatment for his injury and, therefore, could not be released for international duty. This official withdrawal confirms his absence from the national team camp in Uyo.
Osimhen’s unavailability represents a major blow for the three-time African champions, especially considering his formidable form at the start of the season for Galatasaray. Prior to his injury, he had impressively scored six goals and provided two assists in his first four league appearances, making his presence particularly vital for Chelle's tactical plans.
The Super Eagles are set to host the Barea of Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Thursday, September 25. Four days later, on September 29, they will travel to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau’s Djurtus. In Osimhen’s absence, coach Chelle will rely on other attacking options such as Tolu Arokodare, Akor Adams, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, and potentially Al-Ittihad's George Ilenikhena, as Nigeria seeks to secure maximum points in these vital opening qualifying matches for the 2027 AFCON.