Super Eagles’ medical personnel have declared Galatasaray star, Victor Osimhen, unfit for tomorrow’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa.
The former Napoli star, who will now return to his club for further treatment, did not travel with the rest of the Super Eagles’ delegation to South Africa for tomorrow’s game.
Nigeria must beat South Africa tomorrow in Bloemfontein to retain any hope of qualifying automatically for the World Cup billed to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Osimhen sustained an ankle injury in the 36th-minute during Saturday’s clash with Rwanda in Uyo, and was substituted with Cyriel Dessers. Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Eric Chelle, said on Saturday evening that the team’s doctors were working to see if Osimhen could play any part in tomorrow’s game, but reports from the team’s camp, yesterday, was that it would be impossible for the former Napoli star to rise from the ankle injury on time for the game against the Bafana Bafana.
Super Eagles Media Officer, Promise Efoghe, said, yesterday, that the “team’s doctor confirmed Osimhen’s injury is a bruise on his shin. He woke up this morning with discomfort and will not be traveling with the squad to South Africa for Tuesday’s game.”
Also confirming Osimhen’s absence from tomorrow’s game, Galatasaray coach, Okan Buruk, who said that he has been in touch with his star forward, said: “We reached out to him (Osimhen). The information we received is that he has pain in his foot.
“We can’t say ‘there’s nothing wrong.’ We want to bring him to Istanbul as soon as possible and have him examined.” Nigeria will face the Group C leaders knowing anything less than a win will all but end their hopes of qualifying automatically for next year’s World Cup.
While the 1-0 win over Rwanda – secured by substitute Tolu Arokodare’s overhead kick early in the second half – moved the Super Eagles up to third in the table, they remain six points behind leaders South Africa with only three matches remaining.
As a result, should Nigeria lose at the Free State Stadium then the best they would be able to hope for is a second-place finish and a potential play-off spot.
The Nigerian delegation for the game left the Victor Attah Airport, Uyo, yesterday morning for the Bram Fischer International Airport in Bloemfontein.
