Nigeria Suffers Blow As Star Striker Osimhen Misses WC Qualifiers

Nigeria’s quest for World Cup qualification has been dealt a significant blow with the news that star striker Victor Osimhen will miss next month’s crucial matches against South Africa and Benin.
According to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the recently appointed coach Finidi George has called up Enugu Rangers left-back Kenneth Igboke as Osimhen’s replacement.
This means George, who took over from Jose Peseiro a few weeks ago, will have to rely on the goalscoring prowess of another Victor – Victor Boniface of Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
Interestingly, Boniface missed the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast due to injury. Back then, coach Peseiro preferred Osimhen, who played a key role in their run to the final, ultimately lost to the host nation.
Osimhen tormented South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in the AFCON semi-final, scoring a disallowed goal before being forced off the field. The Super Eagles eventually emerged victorious on penalties.
“Eagles Camp update: Africa Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen is injured and out for four weeks. Super Eagles’ Coach Finidi George has called up Enugu Rangers’ left back Kenneth Igboke for the WC qualifiers against South Africa and Benin,” stated the NFF.
Osimhen has endured a frustrating season riddled with injuries and inconsistent form, following a stellar 2022/23 campaign where he fired Napoli to their first Serie A title since the Diego Maradona era in 1990.
He also missed Nigeria’s March friendlies against Ghana and Mali. Napoli, who also suffered a Champions League knockout stage defeat to Barcelona, ultimately surrendered their league title to Inter Milan and finished a disappointing 10th in Serie A.
Nigeria will host South Africa on 7 June as th World Cup qualifiers resume, before traveling to face Group C leaders Rwanda three days later.