Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has included injured striker Victor Osimhen in Nigeria’s 24-man squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Osimhen has been sidelined since suffering a right groin injury during Galatasaray’s 3-2 win over Istanbul Basaksehir on September 4. He has yet to return to full team training.
The striker had been hoping to return against Trabzonspor on September 19, but he was still training separately from Galatasaray’s main group as of Thursday. Reports indicated that he and teammate Mario Lemina were unlikely to travel for the fixture.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his fitness, Chelle retained Osimhen for Nigeria’s opening AFCON qualifiers. The Super Eagles will host Madagascar in Uyo on September 25 before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau on September 29.
Chelle has not publicly explained Osimhen’s inclusion, but keeping him in the squad leaves open the possibility that the striker could recover in time to feature during the international window.
Osimhen is joined in attack by Tolu Arokodare, Akor Adams, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, and first-time invitee George Ilenikhena.
Nigeria will then face Russia in an international friendly in Nizhny Novgorod on October 6, with Chelle naming a separate squad for that fixture.
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