Victor Osimhen will miss Nigeria’s two Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Tanzania after reportedly undergoing surgery on a knee injury, raising concerns about the Super Eagles’ attacking options.
The Galatasaray striker is said to have sustained a left knee strain during the club’s UEFA Champions League fixture against VfB Stuttgart. He subsequently underwent arthroscopic surgery, although the Turkish club has not announced a definite date for his return.
Osimhen is expected to be sidelined for several weeks, ruling him out of the November international window. It is the second consecutive break in which he will be unavailable for Nigeria.
His absence has prompted speculation among some supporters about his commitment to the national team. However, sports analyst Ope Adebari has urged fans and pundits to consider the circumstances surrounding the striker’s injury before drawing conclusions.
“Fans are entitled to their opinions as they consider themselves custodians of the beautiful game. However, I expect pundits to critically analyse situations before jumping into conclusions,” Adebari said.
He recalled that Osimhen travelled to Uyo for Nigeria’s match against Madagascar during the previous international window despite being injured.
“Since making his competitive debut for Nigeria, Victor Osimhen has never turned down an opportunity to represent Nigeria in a competitive match,” he said.
Adebari acknowledged that there might be grounds for discussing Osimhen’s availability for friendly matches but argued that this should not be taken as evidence of a lack of commitment to the Super Eagles.
Nigeria’s Reliance on Osimhen
Osimhen’s absence has renewed attention on Nigeria’s dependence on the Galatasaray forward, who has become a central figure in the team’s attack.
Adebari believes the gap between Osimhen and the country’s other striking options remains significant, making his absence a major challenge for head coach Eric Chelle.
“The truth is, we do not have any other top striker besides Victor Osimhen,” he said.
He identified Akor Adams and George Ilenikhena as the next options capable of fitting into Chelle’s system, although Ilenikhena was not included in the latest squad.
According to Adebari, both players have attributes suited to the coach’s diamond formation, while other forwards called up have found it difficult to adapt.
He also argued that the system could limit the effectiveness of some of Nigeria’s attacking players, particularly when natural wingers are deployed in inverted midfield roles.
Chelle Faces Crucial Tanzania Double-Header
Despite Osimhen’s absence, Adebari believes Nigeria must secure maximum points from their two matches against Tanzania to keep their qualification campaign on course.
Madagascar’s 1-1 draw with Guinea-Bissau has provided Nigeria with an opportunity to improve their position, but the analyst warned that there is little room for further dropped points.
He also welcomed the balance of the latest squad, pointing to the inclusion of eight midfielders with different playing profiles.
“Judging by the squad selection, for the first ever in my opinion, Eric Chelle has assembled a team that can execute his diamond formation in the best way possible,” Adebari said.
However, he questioned whether Chelle would make full use of the midfield options or continue deploying natural wingers in inverted midfield roles.
Adebari added that the results against Tanzania could have significant implications for Nigeria’s qualification hopes and Chelle’s future as head coach.
The Super Eagles will therefore have to find a way to deliver without their leading striker, with the two fixtures presenting a major test of the squad’s depth and tactical flexibility
