The Super Eagles of Nigeria will be without their talismanic striker Victor Osimhen when they take on South Africa at the Free State Toyota Stadium on Tuesday, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Galatasaray striker led the line for Eric Chelle’s side against Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo yesterday evening, and thought he’d scored the opener inside ten minutes, only for the linesman’s flag to go up for offside.
Osimhen’s evening would only get worse after he was clattered into by a Rwandan defender in the 28th minute. After further on-field treatments by the Nigerian physios, the 26-year-old tried to continue playing.
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However, he was writhing in pain, and pulled up a few minutes later, taking his mask off and asking for a change, visibly livid, before he was taken off for Cyriel Dessers in the 35th minute.
Tolu Arokodare came on at halftime to replace Frank Onyeka, and the new Wolves striker scored Nigeria’s only goal to rekindle faint hopes of a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup for Eric Chelle’s side.
The 24-year-old has put himself in pole position to lead the line against Bafana Bafana after the Nigerian medical team confirmed Victor Osimhen suffered a bruise on the shin.
The former Napoli striker woke up this morning with discomfort and will not be travelling with the rest of the squad to South Africa for Tuesday’s game.
Osimhen’s injury causes more headache for Eric Chelle as his side have to outscore the South Africans on home turf without the team’s most proficient goalscorer.
Cyriel Dessers, Ademola Lookman, and Tolu Arokodare will have to step up against Hugo Broos’ men as the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts are six points clear of the Super Eagles in their Qualifiers group.