Victor Osimhen's unexpected half-time substitution during Nigeria's crucial World Cup playoffs clash against DR Congo has ignited a wave of reactions, particularly from Turkey. The 26-year-old forward was replaced by Sevilla's Akor Adams after reportedly limping off the pitch. His absence was acutely felt, as the Nigerian Super Eagles delivered an abysmal performance in the second half, ultimately leading to a penalty shootout loss.

The news of Osimhen's injury sparked considerable concern among fans of Galatasaray, his club team, who voiced worries that his national team duties frequently result in injuries that impact their club. Comments from fans reflected this sentiment, with one stating, "We said Victor Osimhen is returning, and now the Africa Cup is about to start. I wish Nigeria was in the World Cup instead of the Africa Cup. The World Cup is in June; the Africa Cup is in January. No, no, we won't be able to escape this Nigeria." Another fan expressed frustration, adding, "Every time Osimhen goes to the national team, the guy gets injured. Because of this pitch and the plank-footed players." A third suggested Osimhen should prioritize the World Cup schedule over Africa Cup to avoid recurring injuries due to match schedules, pitches, and other players.

Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle quickly addressed the speculation surrounding the substitution, firmly insisting that Victor Osimhen was withdrawn due to an injury. This official statement came amidst growing rumors of a potential dressing-room bust-up at halftime during Nigeria's World Cup playoff defeat to DR Congo. Osimhen had been a key player, having scored twice against Gabon in the semifinal to secure Nigeria's place in the final in Rabat.

Despite Chelle's clear explanation, unverified reports circulated online during the game suggesting that Osimhen's withdrawal was not a result of injury or tactical adjustments. These rumors alleged that the striker was involved in a heated confrontation in the dressing room at halftime. The purported issue reportedly stemmed from frustration over a first-half incident involving Ademola Lookman's cutback, which many believed should have been converted by Samuel Chukwueze or Wilfred Ndidi. The rumor claimed this moment triggered tension, leading to Chelle replacing Osimhen with Akor Adams. However, these claims were unverified and contradicted by the coach.

Further supporting the coach's injury claim, sports journalist Sulaiman Adebayo, known as Pooja, shared a video after the game showing the former LOSC Lille forward visibly limping on the pitch. This visual evidence reinforced the official stance that injury was indeed the reason for Osimhen's early departure from the match.

Regardless of the underlying reason for his withdrawal, the absence of Nigeria's talisman was glaringly evident. Without Osimhen, Nigeria struggled significantly to maintain possession, build effective attacks, and were largely outplayed for considerable portions of the second half and extra time. The Super Eagles ultimately succumbed to a 6–5 defeat on penalties after a 1-1 draw, thereby losing their opportunity to compete in the 2026 intercontinental World Cup playoffs.

The chaotic end to a frustrating evening for Nigeria was further exacerbated by an incident at full-time. Coach Chelle later disclosed that a DR Congo official performing repeated “voodoo-like” gestures during the shootout was the source of a heated clash between both benches.