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Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau after his recovery from a right adductor muscle strain took longer than expected, completesports.com reports.
This is according to a report by the Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe on Saturday.
Osimhen was included in the Super Eagles squad for the international window as there were hopes he would regain full fitness in time for the qualifiers.
However, his expected return was delayed after he was not available for Galatasaray’s Süper Lig clash against Trabzonspor on September 19.
The match had been seen by both club and national team officials as an important fitness assessment for Osimhen.
Also Read: ‘We Miss Osimhen’ — Galatasaray Boss Admits After Slim Win Over Kocaelispor
“Victor Osimhen’s recovery from a muscle strain has been slower than expected,” the report by Efoghe stated. “He was included in Nigeria’s squad for the AFCON qualifiers because Galatasary and Super Eagles technical crew were hopeful he would be fit for the super lig game versus Trabzonspor and ready for the international window.
“But his absence from tonight’s match confirms Galatasary’s correspondence to Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle that the striker is still recovering and will not be ready for Nigeria’s matches.”
The Super Eagles are billed to take on Madagascar on September 25 before facing Guinea-Bissau on September 29.
Osimhen has made four league appearances for Galatasaray this season, scoring six goals and providing two assists.
By James Agberebi
1 Comment
ARE ALL THE FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT (including the coaches) BLIND BEFORE INVITING INJURED OSIMHEN FOR QUALIFIERS.
IF AT ALL THAT HE IS GOING TO BE FIT BEFORE QUALIFIERS, CAN HE BE FIT 100 PERCENT.
NOW THAT HE HAS BEEN RULED OUT, HE HAS CREATED A SHORT-ONE TO THE LIST. AND THIS IS NOT GOOD.
A COACH SHOULD BE WARN THAT ANY PLAYER THAT IS NOT 100% FIT SHOULD NOT BE INVITED FOR ANY MATCHES IN RESPECTIVE OF HIS NAME, EGO, SENIORITY, CAPTAINSHIP, OR BEING AN EXPERIENCE PLAYER OR REGULAR STARTER IN THE TEAM.
AFTER ALL, IN 2024 WORLD, BENZEMA AND AGUERO WERE DROPPED OUT OF FRANCE -ARGENTINA WORLD CUP SQUAD LIST WHEN BOTH WERE INJURED BEFORE WORLD CUP, DESPITE BEING AN GREAT PLAYERS, A WELL EXPERIENCED PLAYERS..
AND BOTH TEAMS STILL REACH WORLD CUP FINAL WITHOUT THEM.
** ERIC CHELLE, STOP INVITING INJURY PLAYERS, EXPERIENCE PLAYER(without fitness), BENCH-WARMER AND INCONSISTENT PLAYERS TO THE NATIONAL TEAM.. UNLESS FAILURE IS AWAITING YOU.
*****BE WARN ****