Victor Osimhen Ruled Out of Nigeria’s AFCON Qualifiers With Serious Groin Injury

Victor Osimhen will miss Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after Galatasaray confirmed that the Super Eagles striker is dealing with a serious groin injury.

The Nigerian picked up the injury during Galatasaray’s 3-2 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir, a match in which he scored the opening goal.

The club later confirmed that Osimhen is suffering from a “moderate to advanced level strain with bleeding in the right groin area”.

Galatasaray said treatment is already underway and that both players are expected to return after the international break.

🇳🇬🤕 Super Eagles and Galatasaray star forward, Victor Osimhen is set to spend around 2–3 weeks injured after sustaining an injury during Friday’s game where he was forced off in the 33rd minute.

Meanwhile, AFCON Qualifiers begin 25th of this Month 😬#victorosimhen #osimhen… pic.twitter.com/t7MJcajBfl

— Football Fans Tribe 🇳🇬 ⚽ (@FansTribeHQ) September 7, 2026

The update means Osimhen will not be available when Nigeria begin their AFCON qualification campaign later this month.

Osimhen Out of September Fixtures

Nigeria are scheduled to open their Group L campaign against Madagascar before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau four days later.

The first match will take place in Nigeria on September 25, while the Super Eagles will play Guinea-Bissau away at the same time on September 29. Both fixtures fall within a crucial international window for Eric Chelle’s team as Nigeria begin their attempt to reach the 2027 AFCON.

Nigeria were drawn in Group L alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania. Tanzania are co-hosts of the tournament and will qualify automatically, leaving Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau competing for the group’s remaining qualification place.

That makes the loss of Osimhen particularly significant. Nigeria will have to start their campaign without a player who has become one of the team’s most important sources of goals.

A Major Blow for Eric Chelle

Osimhen’s injury leaves Chelle with an immediate selection problem.

The striker offers Nigeria more than goals. His pace allows him to attack space behind defensive lines while his physical strength gives the Super Eagles an option when they need to play directly. His movement can also create opportunities for teammates in and around the penalty area.

Nigeria still have attacking options available to them, but Osimhen’s absence, coupled with the injury of Paul Onuachu, could force Chelle to adjust his approach for both matches. The coach will need to decide whether to use another central striker or change the structure of the attack to spread the goalscoring responsibility across the front line.

Recent injuries to Victor Osimhen and Paul Onuachu means they will not be available for the September AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Osimhen picked up a groin injury during Galatasaray’s win over Istanbul Başakşehir while Onuachu was forced off during… pic.twitter.com/qOEil9nAJK

— Super Eagles Supporters Club (@official_esclub) September 7, 2026

The timing is also difficult because Nigeria are starting a new qualification campaign after failing to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

A strong start in Uyo against Madagascar would therefore be important for a team looking to put that disappointment behind them. Without Osimhen, however, the Super Eagles will have to find another way to create and convert chances.

Nigeria Know What to Expect

The Super Eagles are not unfamiliar with either of their September opponents.

Nigeria faced Madagascar home and away during qualification for the 2012 AFCON and won both matches. Guinea-Bissau, meanwhile, caused an upset during the qualifying campaign for the 2023 tournament by defeating Nigeria in Abuja before the Super Eagles responded with a victory in Bissau.

Those previous meetings underline the potential difficulty of the opening fixtures.

Madagascar will arrive in Uyo knowing that Nigeria are without their leading attacking figure, while Guinea-Bissau will have the advantage of playing at home four days later.

For Chelle, the challenge will be to ensure Osimhen’s absence does not become the defining factor in either match.

Galatasaray Await Osimhen’s Return

For Galatasaray, the priority will now be getting Osimhen through his treatment and back into action after the international break.

His injury came after he had already made an impact against Istanbul Basaksehir by scoring before being forced to deal with the medical issue. The club’s description of the injury suggests that the forward will need a period of recovery rather than simply managing a minor knock.

That will also be closely watched in Nigeria.

Osimhen’s return after the international break would allow him to continue his season with Galatasaray while giving the Super Eagles hope that their main striker will be available for the next stage of their AFCON qualification campaign.

For now, though, Nigeria must prepare for two important matches without him.

The Super Eagles will face Madagascar first in Uyo before travelling to Guinea-Bissau four days later. With qualification decided over a limited number of fixtures, Chelle will need his replacement forwards to deliver immediately.