Nigeria's Super Eagles have suffered a significant blow ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 qualifiers as star striker Victor Osimhen has been ruled out due to a slow recovery from a muscle strain. The news was confirmed by the Nigeria Football Federation's Super Eagles media unit on September 20, 2026. Osimhen, who plays for Galatasaray, was expected to recover in time to feature in the qualifiers but his rehabilitation has taken longer than anticipated.
Osimhen was included in Nigeria's squad for the AFCON qualifiers with the hope that he would regain fitness before the matches. However, his absence from Galatasaray's match against Trabzonspor has confirmed that he is still undergoing recovery. The Super Eagles media unit reported that Galatasaray communicated with Nigeria coach Eric Chelle, informing him that Osimhen would not be ready for the national team's matches.
The development is a setback for Nigeria as Osimhen is a key player in the team's attacking setup. He has consistently been one of Nigeria's major sources of goals, providing pace, movement, and physical presence in the penalty area. Osimhen's unavailability presents a significant selection issue for Chelle, who will have to consider alternative options for the matches.
Galatasaray had maintained communication with Nigeria's technical crew regarding Osimhen's condition, and both parties had hoped that he would be fit enough to feature against Trabzonspor. However, his failure to make the matchday squad has settled the situation, and the Super Eagles will have to prepare for the qualifiers without one of their most prominent attacking options.
Osimhen's injury occurred during his club commitments, and he has since been undergoing rehabilitation to return to full fitness. While there was initial optimism about his recovery, the latest development indicates that the injury requires a longer recovery period. The Super Eagles will have to adjust their preparations without Osimhen, who will focus on completing his rehabilitation and returning to action for Galatasaray.
The inclusion of Osimhen in the initial squad suggested that the technical crew was optimistic about his chances of recovering before the qualifiers. However, the latest update means Nigeria must now adjust its plans. The Super Eagles will continue their build-up to the AFCON qualifiers with the available players, while Osimhen focuses on regaining full fitness.
The national team will have to negotiate the qualifiers without its star striker, while Galatasaray will continue managing his recovery with the expectation that he can return to full competitive action once he has completely recovered from the muscle problem. This development could lead to greater opportunities for other strikers included in the squad to shoulder the responsibility of leading Nigeria's attack.
Key points
- Osimhen's absence is a significant blow to Nigeria's AFCON 2027 qualifiers campaign.
- The striker's recovery from a muscle strain has taken longer than anticipated.
- Nigeria will have to adjust their preparations and consider alternative options for the matches.
