Nigeria’s preparations for the crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Tanzania have suffered a major setback following confirmation that Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen requires surgery on his left knee.
Galatasaray announced on Friday, November 6, that the Nigerian forward sustained a knee strain during the club’s UEFA Champions League encounter against VfB Stuttgart.
The Turkish champions revealed that subsequent MRI examinations detected a loose fragment inside the striker’s knee, prompting the decision to proceed with arthroscopic surgery.
The procedure is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, at Maslak Acıbadem Hospital under the supervision of Galatasaray’s club doctor, Yener İnce.
Osimhen has consequently been withdrawn from Galatasaray’s squad for Saturday’s Turkish league meeting with Amed Sportif.
The development is particularly concerning for Nigeria, who are preparing to face Tanzania twice during the November international window.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to host the Taifa Stars in Uyo on November 13 before travelling for the return fixture on November 17.
With surgery now scheduled just days before the first encounter, Osimhen is expected to miss the two matches, leaving head coach Eric Chelle with an important decision to make regarding his attacking options.
The 27-year-old remains one of Nigeria’s most influential attacking players, and his absence would represent a considerable blow to the team’s hopes of collecting maximum points.
However, Galatasaray have yet to announce an official recovery timeline, meaning the full extent of his absence will become clearer following the operation and subsequent medical assessment.
For Nigeria, attention will now turn to Osimhen’s recovery and the attacking alternatives available to Chelle for the decisive encounters.
The Super Eagles will hope their star striker makes a successful recovery as they continue their pursuit of a place at AFCON 2027.
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