Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has picked up a hamstring injury while on International duty with the Nigerian Football team, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 26-year-old started Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier play-off against DR Congo, but was surprisingly taken off at half-time.
After the game, it was confirmed that Eric Chelle opted to take the former Napoli striker off after he was holding his hamstring at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat, although he wanted to stay on.
Sevilla’s Akor Adams came on in his place and was the first Nigerian player to convert his spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out after Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon missed from twelve yards.
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After the game, the Super Eagles’ head coach, Eric Chelle, revealed Osimhen had an injury, and upon further MRI scans, the extent of the damage has been confirmed.
Osimhen to miss CAF Awards
The former LOSC Lille forward was shortlisted among the final three players nominated for the 2025 CAF Player of the Year Award, alongside Mohammed Salah and Achraf Hakimi.
However, multiple reports confirm that Osimhen will not attend this year’s CAF Awards ceremony in Rabat, Morocco, scheduled for tonight, Wednesday, 19th November 2025.
The striker has travelled back to Istanbul for a scheduled MRI scan after picking up a hamstring injury while representing Nigeria.
Osimhen scheduled to return before AFCON 2025
The AFCON 2025 tournament kicks off in Morocco on the 21st of December 2025 and will run through till the 18th of January 2026.
As per Muglayenigun, Osimhen suffered a moderate strain and bleeding in his left posterior muscle after the MRI scan.
It is expected that the Nigerian forward will be out of action for about three weeks, and he’s expected to return to action in the third week of December, just before Nigeria’s AFCON campaign.
Eric Chelle will be hoping his talismanic forward doesn’t suffer a setback in his recovery process, as he’s still out in the cold after Ola Aina suffered a hamstring injury against South Africa.