Osimhen to miss World Cup qualifiers against South Africa, Benin Republic due to injury
Victor Osimhen, the talented forward from Napoli, will not be able to participate in Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualification matches against South Africa and the Benin Republic.
Initially named in the squad to play against South Africa on June 7 and the Benin Republic three days later, Osimhen’s absence was confirmed on Tuesday due to an injury.
In a tweet from the Super Eagles X handle, it was stated, “Camp update: Africa Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen is injured and out for 4 weeks.”
Furthermore, Super Eagles’ Coach Finidi George has called up Enugu Rangers’ left back Kenneth Igboke as a replacement for the WC qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic.
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Losing Osimhen is a significant setback for Nigeria’s World Cup aspirations.
Currently sitting in third place in Group C, the Super Eagles trail behind Rwanda and South Africa in the African qualification series standings.
Meanwhile, Benin Republic sits at the bottom of the group with just one point. Rwanda leads with four points, followed by Lesotho and Zimbabwe, each with two points.
Osimhen, who played a critical role in Nigeria’s second-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this year, has been absent from the national team since the tournament.
He also missed friendly matches against Ghana and Mali due to his ongoing injury concerns.
