Victor Osimhen race against time for Nigeria’s AFCON qualifiers after groin injury

Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen is facing a race against time to recover in time for the Super Eagles’ opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after Galatasaray confirmed that he has suffered a groin injury.

Osimhen was forced off in the 33rd minute of Galatasaray’s 3-2 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir on Friday after appearing to pick up an injury to his inner thigh.

The 27-year-old was seen holding the affected area before receiving assistance from members of Galatasaray’s medical team as he made his way off the pitch.

The Turkish champions subsequently sent the forward for an MRI scan and further examinations at Acıbadem Hospital to determine the extent of the injury.

Galatasaray confirmed on Sunday that the scans revealed an advanced-moderate strain, accompanied by bleeding, in Osimhen’s right adductor muscle group.

“Following the completion of MR and advanced examinations at our sponsor Acıbadem Hospital, advanced-moderate level strain (bleeding and strain) has been detected in the right adductor (groin) muscle group of our footballer Victor Osimhen,” the club said in a statement published on its official X account.

Galatasaray also confirmed that midfielder Mario Lemina suffered a similar advanced-moderate strain in his right adductor muscle group, with both players now undergoing treatment.

The extent of Osimhen’s injury will be a major concern for Nigeria, with the Super Eagles scheduled to begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign later this month.

Nigeria are due to host Madagascar in Uyo on September 23 before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau four days later on September 27.

Osimhen remains one of Nigeria’s most important attacking players, and his potential absence would represent a significant setback for head coach Eric Chelle as the Super Eagles begin their qualification campaign.

The striker’s availability will now depend on how he responds to treatment and the speed of his recovery. With the first qualifier only a little over two weeks away, Nigeria will be closely monitoring his progress.

Galatasaray will also be keen to avoid rushing Osimhen back, particularly given the nature of an adductor injury and the risk of aggravating the problem if he returns before he is fully fit.

For the Super Eagles, the hope will be that Osimhen can recover in time to lead the attack against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau as Nigeria begin their journey towards the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.