Victor Osimhen has reportedly now been ruled out of Nigeria’s crunch World Cup qualifier against South Africa in a major blow to the Super Eagles.
The talismanic Galatasaray striker remains his country’s most important and high-profile player and started Saturday’s Group C clash with Rwanda in Uyo, but was forced off 10 minutes before half-time with a lower leg injury having initially tried to play through the issue.
Nigeria went on to win 1-0 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium thanks to an early second-half goal from substitute and new Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare, leaving them third in the group with three games remaining behind leaders South Africa and Benin, who beat Lesotho and Zimbabwe respectively on Friday.
Inevitably much of the post-match focus fell on the status of Osimhen, with Super Eagles boss Eric Chelle saying after the win over Rwanda: “I can’t say much about Victor for now. He has pain in his ankle, we will see when he wake up tomorrow.
“I have to also discuss with the team doctors to see whether he will be available for the game.”
Hopes that Osimhen may be fit to face South Africa now look to have been quashed, with new reports stating that the 26-year-old was not with his Nigeria team-mates as they departed for Bloemfontein on Sunday and will not make the trip.
Osimhen is said to have woken up in pain on Sunday and been diagnosed with a shin bruise, ruled out of the meeting with Bafana Bafana and now poised to return to Galatasaray for further assessment and treatment ahead of their trip to Eyupspor in the Turkish Super Lig next weekend.
Okan Buruk’s title holders are then due to begin their Champions League campaign away in Germany against Eintracht Frankfurt on September 18.
Panathinaikos frontman Cyriel Dessers - formerly of Rangers - replaced Osimhen against Rwanda, though was substituted himself late on in Uyo.
Arokodare was the match-winner after being sent on at half-time for Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka.
