Victor Osimhen Injury Puts Super Eagles’ AFCON Start in Doubt

Nigeria may have to begin its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign without its biggest attacking threat.

Victor Osimhen has suffered a significant right groin injury, with Galatasaray confirming that scans found an advanced-moderate strain with bleeding in the right adductor muscle group.

The 27-year-old picked up the injury during Galatasaray’s 3-2 win over İstanbul Başakşehir on September 4. Osimhen scored in the match but was substituted after just 33 minutes.

The club said his treatment is already underway. It did not give an exact recovery date.

Nigeria could lose Osimhen at a bad time

The timing could hardly be worse for the Super Eagles.

Nigeria begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign against Madagascar on September 25 before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau on September 29.

Reports now indicate Osimhen is expected to miss the September international window, leaving coach Eric Chelle without one of his most important players for the opening two matches.

That puts more pressure on the other forwards in the squad.

Osimhen has scored 35 goals for Nigeria, just two behind Rashidi Yekini's national record of 37. He also began the new club season in strong form, scoring six goals and providing two assists in his first four appearances for Galatasaray, according to recent Nigerian reporting.

Galatasaray will feel it too

Nigeria is not the only side facing a problem.

Osimhen is also expected to miss important fixtures for Galatasaray, including their Champions League meeting with Sporting Lisbon and upcoming Turkish Super Lig matches.

His injury comes after a strong start to the season in Istanbul. He scored against Başakşehir before being forced off, leaving Galatasaray to manage his recovery alongside that of midfielder Mario Lemina, who suffered a similar right adductor injury.

For a club competing domestically and in Europe, losing its leading striker even temporarily creates another problem on an already crowded schedule.

Chelle now has to adjust

The immediate concern for Nigeria is finding enough attacking threat without Osimhen.

The Super Eagles already have other injury concerns. Paul Onuachu, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Sadiq Umar, Tochukwu Nnadi and Zaidu Sanusi have also been dealing with injuries, adding to the selection headache ahead of the qualifiers.

That could open the door for other forwards to take on bigger roles.

Tolu Arokodare is one name likely to attract attention after his move to Ajax, while other attacking options will have a chance to convince Chelle that Nigeria can cope without its first-choice striker.

The bigger concern is getting through September

Nigeria cannot afford a slow start.

With Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau standing between the Super Eagles and a strong opening to the qualifying campaign, losing Osimhen removes a player capable of changing a game on his own.

But the injury itself does not yet tell us how long he will be out. Galatasaray has confirmed the nature of the problem and that treatment has started, but the club has not officially announced a specific return date.

For now, Nigeria has to prepare for September without assuming Osimhen will be available.

And that could make the Super Eagles' first two AFCON qualifiers much harder than they looked a week ago.