Victor Osimhen injured, doubt for Tanzania AFCON qualifers

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is dealing with an injury and, as a result, might not be available for Nigeria in the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania.

The 27-year-old marksman was in action for the Cimbom in midweek, when they defeated Stuttgart 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League. He was taken off in the 90th minute after a decent outing.

However, at some point during the game, he seemed to be struggling after miskicking the ball while trying to pass to a teammate. Fans did not read much into it at the time, but the issue now appears far more serious than initially thought.

The moment Osimhen got injured. https://t.co/hVaKv1m5Fx
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) November 6, 2026

Galatasaray released a statement to that effect this evening, confirming that Osimhen sustained an injury during the match against Stuttgart. As a result, he will be unavailable for selection when they face Amed in the Süper Lig this weekend.

”In the UEFA Champions League match we played against VfB Stuttgart, our player Victor Osimhen sustained a strain in his left knee, and MRI examinations detected a loose body,” Galatasaray wrote on their official page.

”An arthroscopic knee surgery will be performed tomorrow at Maslak Acıbadem Hospital by our club doctor, Yener İnce. For this reason, our player has been removed from the squad for tomorrow’s match against Amed S. F.”

This is a major blow for the Cimbom, as second-placed Amed are expected to put up a tough fight. Galatasaray have shown that they are vulnerable, and Amedspor will be looking to exploit those weaknesses to leave Rams Park with all three points.

Galatasaray stars Aleksey Batrakov and Victor Osimhen. Photo by IMAGO

However, the concern extends well beyond this weekend’s Süper Lig fixture. Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle is likely facing a major headache of his own.

Victor Osimhen Might Miss Crucial Super Eagles AFCON Qualifiers

Much as Galatasaray will be disappointed by Victor Osimhen’s injury setback, Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle and Nigerian supporters will be equally troubled by the news.

Nigeria will return to action later this month for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie against Tanzania. It is a double-header, meaning Nigeria will host the first leg before traveling to Tanzania for the reverse fixture.

With Osimhen set to miss Galatasaray’s clash against Amed on Sunday, concerns are mounting over his availability for the national team. He remains Nigeria’s talisman, and his absence is always keenly felt.

He sat out Nigeria’s opening two qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar, and the frontline visibly lacked bite without him. While Tanzania are beatable opponents, the current crop of Super Eagles players has repeatedly shown vulnerability whenever Osimhen is unavailable.

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen. Photo by IMAGO

Losing him would represent a significant blow for Chelle, who likely built his tactical plans around the Galatasaray superstar. Now, the Franco-Malian tactician may have to devise an alternative strategy around another center-forward.

Osimhen’s post-procedure prognosis should become clearer by Saturday, leaving supporters hoping the damage is minimal. With the first clash against Tanzania barely a week away, whether he plays will ultimately depend on the severity of the diagnosis.