Super Eagles Hit by Osimhen Blow as Galatasaray Striker Ruled Out of AFCON Qualifiers

Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau after his recovery from a groin injury took longer than expected.

The Super Eagles confirmed the Galatasaray striker’s withdrawal on Sunday, just days after he had been named in Eric Chelle’s 24-man squad for the double-header.

Osimhen sustained the injury during Galatasaray’s 3-2 win over Istanbul Basaksehir on September 5, leaving the pitch after just 33 minutes with discomfort around his left inner thigh.

The Turkish club later described the problem as an “advanced moderate strain involving bleeding in the right adductor muscle group”.

Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe confirmed the setback in a statement on Sunday morning. “Victor Osimhen’s recovery from a muscle strain has been slower than expected,” Efoghe said.

He explained that Osimhen had been included in the squad because both Galatasaray and the Super Eagles technical crew were hopeful he would be fit for the Turkish Super Lig clash with Trabzonspor and ready for the international window.

“But his absence from tonight’s match confirms Galatasaray’s correspondence to Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle that the striker is still recovering and will not be ready for Nigeria’s matches,” Efoghe added.

Osimhen was absent on Saturday as Galatasaray were thrashed 4-0 by Trabzonspor, his third consecutive match on the sidelines.

The 27-year-old had started the season in superb form, scoring six goals in his first four league appearances.

In a separate development, Galatasaray had reportedly written to the Nigeria Football Federation requesting that Osimhen not be called up for the international fixtures, a request the NFF ultimately accepted after evaluating the striker’s condition.

Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been called up as Osimhen’s replacement. The Super Eagles announced the change on Sunday, welcoming the striker back to the national team.

Nigeria begin their qualifying campaign against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on September 25, before travelling to Guinea-Bissau four days later.

Eric Chelle’s side will then face Russia in a friendly in Nizhny Novgorod on October 6.