Share!
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is facing a race against time to feature in Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers after Galatasaray confirmed he has suffered a groin injury.
The 27-year-old forward picked up the injury during Galatasaray’s 3–2 victory over Istanbul Başakşehir on Friday, forcing him off after just 33 minutes.
Osimhen had made a blistering start to the match, opening the scoring in the 17th minute with a spectacular long-range effort that struck the underside of the crossbar before crossing the goal line.
However, his night was cut short after he appeared to clutch his inner thigh and was subsequently replaced, raising immediate concerns over his availability for both club and country.
Galatasaray later confirmed the extent of the injury following MRI and advanced medical examinations. According to the Turkish champions, scans showed an advanced-moderate strain, accompanied by bleeding, in Osimhen’s right adductor (groin) muscle group. The club said treatment had commenced but did not provide a specific recovery timeline.
The timing of the setback is particularly concerning for Nigeria, with the Super Eagles preparing to begin their 2027 AFCON qualification campaign later this month.
Nigeria are scheduled to host Madagascar on September 25 before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau four days later. The two matches will form part of Nigeria’s Group L qualifying campaign.
Osimhen’s potential absence would represent a major blow to head coach Eric Chelle, who is already dealing with a growing list of injury concerns within the national team.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Sadiq Umar, Tochukwu Nnadi and Zaidu Sanusi are among players who have recently been sidelined, while Trabzonspor forward Paul Onuachu also picked up an injury after scoring twice in his side’s 5–0 victory over Gençlerbirliği.
The injury also comes at a difficult point in Osimhen’s own campaign. The striker has been in outstanding form for Galatasaray, scoring six goals and providing two assists in four league appearances this season.
For Nigeria, however, the immediate concern goes beyond one player’s absence. Osimhen has become one of the Super Eagles’ most important attacking outlets and is also closing in on the country’s all-time goalscoring record. He currently has 35 international goals, just two behind the late Rashidi Yekini’s record of 37.
A prolonged absence would therefore not only affect Nigeria’s attacking options but could also delay Osimhen’s pursuit of the historic milestone.
While Galatasaray have not disclosed how long the striker is expected to remain sidelined, reports suggest the injury could keep him out for a number of weeks, putting his availability for Nigeria’s September qualifiers in serious doubt.
Chelle and the Super Eagles technical team will now closely monitor Osimhen’s recovery as preparations intensify for the AFCON qualifying campaign.
For Nigeria, the hope is simple: that the injury proves less serious than feared and that the country’s leading striker can recover in time to lead the Super Eagles’ attack.
