Nigeria’s Super Eagles will have to make do without Victor Osimhen when they battle the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier.
This is as the team’s doctor, Sunday, confirmed that the Galatasaray striker has been injured and left out of those traveling to Bloemfontein, South Africa.
The Galatasaray man picked up a bruise on his chin in the first half of Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Rwanda in Uyo on Saturday, a match decided by substitute Tolu Arokodare’s strike.
“Victor picked up a bruise on his chin and woke up today with some discomfort. After medical assessment, we have decided he will not be traveling with the squad to South Africa in order to allow him rest and recover fully,” the Super Eagles doctor explained.
The development means Nigeria will be without their 2023 African Footballer of the Year for the clash at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, September 9, 2025..
Before his latest injury, Oshimen had only featured twice for Nigeria, both in March during the opening six matches of the ongoing African qualifiers, furthering casting shadows on the country’s quest to avoid back-to-back World Cup miss.
As it stands, Nigeria will need a win in high-altitude Bloemfontein to stay in the race for a place at the quadruple global showpiece co-hosted by USA-Canada-Mexico next year.
Coach Eric Chelle will now turn to other forward options such as Cyril Dessers, Arokodare and others to lead the line against the Bafana Bafana.
Despite Osimhen’s absence, team officials remain confident of a strong performance and hopeful that the striker will return to fitness for subsequent fixtures