Napoli forward Victor Osimhen will miss Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bafana Bafana of South Africa and Squirrels of Benin Republic due to injury.
Head coach Finidi George has already extended invitation to Rangers defender Kenneth Igboke as his replacement.
“Africa Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen is injured and out for 4 weeks. Super Eagles’ Coach Finidi George has called up Enugu Rangers’ left back Kenneth Igboke for the WC qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Rep,” reads a statement on the Super Eagles X account.
Igboke’s invitation increased the number of home-based players in the team to three.
Enyimba goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo and Remo Stars’ Sodiq Ismail were part of the 23-man squad named last week by Finidi.
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Osimhen has battled with injury in recent weeks.
The 25-year-old featured as a substitute in Napoli’s 0-0 draw against Leece last weekend.
The striker took the place of Jens Cajuste 25 minutes from time.
The Super Eagles are expected to open camp for the qualifying fixtures this weekend.
The three-time African will host South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Friday, June 7.
They will travel to Abidjan to keep a date with neighbours Benin Republic three days later.
40 Comments
No wahala we have enough strikers.
Wow injury is weakening this team. Hope the other strikers, Boni and Moffi would need to step up their game…
SA Bafana will see this great news and a relief. But there are replacements available in SE strike force and they will be living in fools paradise to assume the Nigerian threat is over.
Lookman Boniface Combo will be great and second half introduce Kelechi. There’s no cause alarm in this regard!!!
I wish you a quick recovery Oshimen. We have nothing to be worried about because we have better replacement for Oshimen.
It’s going to be between Moffi and Boniface. That is for sure.
And if Dessers injruy is not that bad and he can play, Finidi should get him on board.
We have the players but the only fear I’m having now is the NFF ajewomasan the debtors.
If they can allow Finidi to do is job then no problem. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Nigeria will lose to South Africa and draw with Benin. This team is only good on paper
HenryR ppl like you is what we call enemy of progress. The team havent even set up their first tranning camp u talkin bout we only look good on paper.
Injuries are part of the game, and can’t be helped when it happens. But the quality of replacement calls to question the overall intent of NFF and their seriousness towards the World Cup qualification. I’m beginning to wonder if the invitation of several unfit players in the first instance was not a ploy to replace them with questionable home based players at the last minute. Hopefully not, but one can hardly put anything beyond this crop of NFF officials who seem to have great fun toying with the emotions of Nigerians.
We begin to have too many first timers in the team and is not looking good. Plus the defense area lack experience.
These matches is too crutial for us to be depending on people that has not been seen very well before.
There’s reason why people introduce new players in second half of match or deploy them during friendlies. One small mistake can lead to penalty.
As I’m typing what came to mind was Keita inexperience during world cup.
I pray everything go in our favour instead.
Meanwhile, I like the inclusion of match analyst and fitness trainer that finidi George made. Most expecially match analyst, is something I’ve always been expecting for long, which a believe it’s going to have big positive effect on SE.
I’m not surprised, I know one them we not show up, either him or Seriel dodger Ndidi, these dudes need to learn to play with their brains. U ve two crucial games coming up and u got injured in ur last match in the last minutes of play.
So Finidi did not know b4 that the team is lean on the left side of defence….?
I think a more experienced Defender, like Ebuehi even Balogun would have accepted he is doing very well in Glasgow Rangers this season if it is defender’s we need or a straight attacker in the mould of Awoniyi or Orban even Sadiq or Desser’s there are many Options. this Craze to involve NPFL players is not good they have CHAN team for crucial games like this we need only the best.
This guy @UGO you have come with this your UBER DRIVER again…
When last did you see him in the NEWS…(Goal scoring exploit)
UBER DRIVER that you people want to use RUMORS to FORCE on TOTTENHAM???…
I am beginning to spot the beginnings a trend here: name your main squad and put homebase players on standby.
Should injury-prone Chukwueze and Ndidi drop out on health grounds, my Kobo is on homebase players on veiled standby will replace them.
I have never really had issues with smidgen of homebase players kitting out for the Super Eagles. But the more the quantity of homebase players the less quality the team will assume.
Already, we have that impressive lad from Tanzania who so easily can pass for a homebase player making it 3 outfield players from average Africa leagues and 5 in total when you consider the 2 Africa-based goalkeepers.
In total, something like a quarter of the 23 players called upon (22%) are based in Africa.
In the last Afcon, out of 25 players, only 2 were based in Africa, representing just 8%. None of these was an outfield player.
In fact, in the last world cup qualifier against Zimbabwe, again none of the 2 homebase players invited was an outfield player.
Slowly but surely the number of Africa based players is on the rise.
Is this a positive development?
Only time will tell. The Tanzanian based lad raised eyebrows in his invitation the last time around however, happily, he appeared to have justified his invite.
The homebase fullbacks invited this time around appear to be shrewd and brazen invites. Feelers from followers of the NPFL rate these players highly.
To be brutally honest, the likes of Akpoguma, Semi Ajayi and recently Ebuehi have struggled to bring to bear that historical Nigerian hard-nose no nonsense defensive display. You will say the sort, on a bad day, that gifted Italy a penalty that knocked Nigeria out of the 1994 World Cup or, on a good day, the type that Taribo West employed to attain Olympic Gold 2 years later.
Whichever way, so long as these players do the deed, fans will withhold our complaint.
But it’s a massive gamble to diminish the quality of leagues players are drawn from to prosecute crucial encounters.
Let’s just hope it’s gamble that pays off.
You guys should not worry. We have a very capable replacement in Joseph Atule. His nickname is DE RAMPAGING. He is deadly.
Osimhen will not be missed at all.
Please who’s Joseph Atule? Which club does he play with?
Joseph Atule is the next Julius Aghaowa. The guy is dynamite. Go and see how he tore African teams to shreds for Eyimba in Caf competitions.
Believe me Pompei can never get enough of this guy! He should be invited if Chukwueze or Onyeka drops out.
Yes ooo, he is also called Jay Jay. Google it.
Okocha thought that name belongs only to him. Na lie.
Jay Jay Atule is the next big thing.
A three man strike force of Lookman, Boniface and Tella should be adopted immediately, it’s a deadly partnership.
Ndidi, onyeka and iwobi manning the midfield in a 433 formation, South Africa will surely correct.
Hahahahaha…you want to start 3 forwards who have never played together before, against this Hugo Broos led South African team that killed not less than 5 Nigerians on their way to winning bronze at the last AFCON…in a crucial MUST WIN WCQ…???
Its like what happened vs Ghana in Abuja did not teach y’all enough lessons
You’ve returned to CSN after years of hibernation to come and start dropping bangers again ey…?? LMAOooo
Finidi….learn from where Eguavoen failed o. Never ever think of or attempt running with Lineups CSN coaches drop here o……hmmm…a word is enough for the wise…!!!
Boniface and Tella plays together in their club so they know each other well and Lookman is the Star boy of the team , he knows his job.
these front three will be very dangerous!!!
When the coach and his employers were selling the baits of 7 home based players, I knew something was cooking.
Now the meal is about to be served!
Was he out of internet or call cards to find out about Osi’s injury..
Is he not aware of the fact that chukzzy was not dressed for his club’s last 4 matches and out of his club coming games..
Was he not aware of Onyeka’s injury that made him.miss his club recent matches.
Was he not in the knowing of Iheanacho 18mins of action out of a minimum 360mins of his club recent games.
Inviting about 4 match rusty players to crucial games when there are better options is suicidal!!
Won’t be surprised if more home based players get invited for the two games!
The more home based players the more $ to share.. The case of the Noble guy comes to mind!@
The fact that we are always hoping for gambles to pay off encapsulates what is wrong with our football.
From generation to generation, clueless, reckless decisions, inevitably followed by hopes and prayers galore.
Inept officials making decisions without the benefit of intellect and/or transparency, and then HOPING and PRAYING for things to work out.
It almost feels like the 2 all important matches coming up are mere friendlies. Nothing at stake.
When will we ever learn, and start doing things right?
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) must have a death wish for Nigerian football if their current antics are anything to go by. They’re hell-bent on pushing home-based players into the national team while keeping the number of quality foreign-based players to a minimum. Instead of securing a competent coach for the CHAN team, ensuring they play quality matches, and helping our league clubs perform well in continental competitions to scout top-tier talent, they’re busy shoving every Tom, Dick, and Harry into the Suoer Eagles to fulfill some selfish agenda.
This is why they hired Finidi George, who, let’s face it, is a puppet. They wouldn’t dare try this nonsense with a foreign coach because they won’t take it. What exactly are they hoping to achieve with this nonsense? Do they want us to believe that the local league is good or that it has players who can compete with the best in the world? If our league and its players are so fantastic, why do our local clubs perform so poorly in continental competitions?
How many players have moved directly from an NPFL club to a top European club since Taiye Taiwo transferred from Lobi Stars to Olympique Marseille over 20 years ago? And I’m not talking about the academies, which are our saving grace now, because without them and the Golden Eaglets as a major platform, it would be hard to see any Nigerian player in a top European team.
Remember the glory days of Kanu to Ajax, Oruma to Lens, Babayaro to Anderlecht, even in recent time with Iheanacho going to Manchester City, Awoniyi to Liverpool, and Isaac Success to Udinese? The list goes on. These players were U17 graduates who moved straight to grade A leagues after winning world titles at the U17 level. And their transformation in their respective clubs added tremendous value to the national team within a short time of their transition.
Back then, Belgium was the Mecca for many home-based players, with the likes of Siasia, Eguavoen, Nwanu, Okpara, Amokachi, Ikpeba, and others moving directly from Nigerian clubs to the Jupiter League in Belgium. When was the last time a player made that jump straight from the NPFL?
These days, even the Nigerian U-20 teams struggle to produce players for top European clubs. Apart from Fredrick from Ladan Bosso’s average U20 team to that last WYC in Argentina, can anyone name a single player from recent U-20 squads who moved to a top European club after a major competition? Oh, did I even mention that Fredrick is a product of another academy founded by Simeon Moses, another quality product of a similar academy in Jos.
We barely hear about them after those tournaments. And for those who eventually get the needed break, like Terem Moffi and Victor Boniface, they usually start in obscure leagues like Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Norway before catching the eye of top European clubs. Compare that journey with the journeys of the likes of Awoniyi, Iheanacho, and Kanu, top U17 graduates, and you’ll see the stark difference.
But back to the main point: prioritizing home-based players over proven European talents in the Super Eagles will backfire spectacularly. Look at the last AFCON, where teams brought their best players and played with passion and intensity. As a matter of fact, I’m not expecting much from Finidi George, but I certainly don’t want Nigeria to be utterly disgraced as if we have no honour left in this qualifying series. I just don’t want.
The glory days are in the past because technology was not in place like we have it now. Most scouts don’t have to come down to watch players except if it’s necessary. Also, the league is in competition with many academies which have sprung up. The academies market their players with agents than the league
Didn’t I warned u guys about slim shady. The ogogoro coach and his cohorts ve a mission, these goons don’t care about going to any World Cup, the mission is to sell players and manage them.
So calling 3 home based players now makes the coach a shady person. Na Wa for you. Come off all the Yeye assumptions that he is out to sell players. We can say the same for Rorh and Paseiro.
Next time use auto correct, because i can’t comprehend all what you have stated here. So how out 23 players 3 is home based that makes the coach corrupt, you guys are a disgarce
This is why you don’t place round pegs in a square. The man running our football house, has no passion for football. He is so frugal that it will spell disaster for our national teams. I’m starting to see a pattern
1. Late appointments of coaches in order to drag out months/weeks to avoid paying any salary
2. Late camping and hiring of u17 coach so that he won’t spend
3. Finidi the yes boy is now inviting home based players to help save and cut down on foreign invites. Our best players are still oversease….Except a local player makes a big move or do something extra ordinary then I will support an invitation.
4. An ogogoro coach that didn’t realize he was missing a natural left back in the first list released cannot be trusted.
And for Osimhen….I know you are aiming for a big move and trying to avoid being injured but guess what, if we miss the world cup it won’t do your legacy any good. You played till the last whistle against Lecce with no sign of pain or injuries and then suddenly you are injured?????/ it is between you and God.
I prefer AWONIYI to LEAD the ATTACK over BURN BURN FACE…
That BURN BURN FACE looks HEAVY and not as SHARP and PACY like AWO….
I’m telling you @Monkey Post. The guy is always on X showing off every time. Someone who hasn’t achieved anything in the National team. He’s as injury prone as Awoniyi. I would’ve really preferred Awoniyi if not that he just came back from Injury at the end of the season. Boniface Abi na wetin you call am? Burn Burn Lmao! needs to step up or else!!!
Yes o @Ayphillydegreat burn burn face…lol..
@ Footballfanatic. Gob will bless you for telling them the truth,Slim Shady is not a coach, the imposter is there to do the dirty works of his bosses, Ogogoro guy has no business in handling the super eagles. Is going to wars with two sluggish main strikers Moffi and Dongo, we need a hustling and super aggressive strikers to win this African matches, we only ve two hustling and aggressive strikers Awo and Osi. Awo has recovered why he didn’t call him, why Awazeim instead of Balogun.
I’m still scratching my head as why there’s no natural left back invited. It was until Osimhens injury they finally sent invitation to another home based left wing back. I can only wish the team all the best. Imagine this shoddy arrangements by this incompetent bunch against Hugo Broos and Gernot Rohr?? Lord have mercy upon us. Anyway let’s just continue to support the team.
AY,
We have been reduced to praying for Lord’s mercy, hoping and just whistling in the wind. It really should not be. Nigeria has far too many talents – far too many – for fans to be hoping and praying! The state of affairs is truly abject, but, the end will justify the means, so I will wait eagerly for the end result to fully pass judgement.
Again, if these unorthodox or underhand tactics and gamble from the NFF pays off, Finidi will become a most unlikely hero and a genius.
Buckle up bro, I hope it won’t be a bumpy ride!
“….We qualified for the world cup with home-based players…”
That is the prank the NFF and Finidi are trying to pull right under our nostrils.
With the way they are handling things at the moment, one would think Nigeria already has a 5point lead in our WCQ group.
Toying with the U17 national team is about to blow up in our faces…..that still hasn’t served them enough lessons.
Na Sidon look we dey…!
Let’s not forget the Benin match. They will be very hard to beat going by Rohrs tactics BUT from my observation of how he played during his stay in Nigeria, his team tires out towards the end of the matches.
So we can strategize to massacre them in the last 15minutes. Just my humble opinion.
In our last 10-15 most recent matches (minus sao tome), we have scored only in 4 games in the last 15 minutes and conceded in the last 15 minutes in a whooping 8 games.
So while you are strategizing to “massacre them in the last 15minutes”, know that your team is also doubly vulnerable to being massacred in the last 15 minutes too.
He who’s got bloodied bowels does not bend down to look at another’s bowels….!!!
My opinion is based on watching how we the SE played and conceded in the last 15 minutes under Rohr. More like back to sender but you have also raised the issue from your own observation post Rohr.
It’s now like a recurring decimal that’s why we need to shop for young bloods from U17, U20 to avert this national disaster.
Why are we like this Nigerians? When are going to change for God sake?
We see white but instead of calling it white but we continue calling it black.
We are not destiny to be like this until we change the way think, the way we do things and our mindset.
How can we not call a spade a spade and take action?
NFF is the major problem of our sports but we can’t we face them that we don’t want them?
Some of us want us to support the team go or bad it’s okay. Really? Do we not have a choice anymore?
I’m not sorry I can’t support anything bad because I love our country more than anybody. I wish Super Eagles well. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!