Napoli star Victor Osimhen will miss Nigeria’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic due to injury.
Osimhen, the reigning CAF Footballer of the Year, was initially included in the squad set to face South Africa on June 7 and the Squirrels of Benin Republic three days later.
However, the Super Eagles confirmed his absence on Tuesday.
“Camp update: Africa Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen is injured and out for 4 weeks,” read a tweet from the Super Eagles’ official X handle.
Super Eagles’ Coach Finidi George has called up Enugu Rangers’ left back Kenneth Igboke for the WC qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Rep.
Osimhen’s injury is a significant setback for Nigeria, who are currently third in Group C of the African qualification series, trailing behind leaders Rwanda and South Africa.
Benin Republic sit at the bottom with one point, while Rwanda leads with four points, and Lesotho and Zimbabwe each have two points.
The 25-year-old forward played a crucial role in Nigeria’s second-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this year but has not featured for the Super Eagles since the tournament.
He also missed the recent friendly matches against Ghana and Mali due to injury.
