Victor Osimhen Ruled Out of Nigeria’s World Cup Qualifier Against South Africa
Nigeria will face a major setback in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign as star striker Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of the upcoming clash against South Africa due to injury. The Super Eagles will travel without their talisman, raising concerns about their attacking strength ahead of the crucial match.
Osimhen, who has been one of the most reliable forwards for Nigeria in recent years, picked up the injury during the team’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Saturday. The Galatasaray striker was forced off in the first half and replaced by Cyriel Dessers, leaving fans worried about his availability for the next fixture.
According to an update provided by the Super Eagles’ media officer, Promise Efoghe, the injury was confirmed as a chin bruise, which has caused Osimhen discomfort. “Team doctor confirmed Victor Osimhen’s injury is a bruise on his chin. He woke up this morning with discomfort and will not be traveling with the squad to South Africa for Tuesday’s game,” Efoghe explained.
The news comes as a huge blow to Nigeria, as Osimhen’s presence in attack has often been the difference in tight games. His energy, physical presence, and goal-scoring instincts have made him one of the most feared strikers in African football. Without him, coach Finidi George will have to rely on other attacking options such as Cyriel Dessers, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Terem Moffi to lead the line against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to depart for South Africa today (Sunday) ahead of the matchday eight encounter, which will take place at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein. The game is expected to be a fierce battle, given both teams’ standings in the group.
Currently, Bafana Bafana sit at the top of Group C with 16 points from seven games, showcasing their consistency in the qualifiers. Nigeria, on the other hand, find themselves in third place with 10 points from the same number of matches. The absence of Osimhen could make their task even more difficult as they fight to close the gap and improve their chances of securing a World Cup ticket.
Fans and analysts alike believe this fixture could define Nigeria’s qualification hopes. With South Africa in strong form, the Super Eagles will need to dig deep and show resilience to come away with a result. The spotlight will now be on the players stepping in for Osimhen to prove that Nigeria can still compete at the highest level, even without their star man.
As the countdown to Tuesday’s clash begins, Nigerian supporters will be hoping that the team can rise to the challenge, while also keeping fingers crossed for Osimhen’s quick recovery before the next round of qualifiers.
