Osimhen Injured in Derby, Doubtful for AFCON Qualifiers

Victor Osimhen, playing for Galatasaray, sustained a groin injury during a derby match against Istanbul Basaksehir, which has cast doubt on his participation in Nigeria's upcoming qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Osimhen opened the scoring with a goal in the 16th minute, but in the second half, he signaled to the bench that he could not continue and was subsequently withdrawn from the match.

This injury comes at a critical time for the Super Eagles, as head coach Eric Chelle is preparing for AFCON qualifying later this month. Osimhen's performance has been vital for the team, and losing him, even temporarily, would be a significant setback.

Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk is expected to provide an update on the severity of the injury during his post-match press conference, which will be closely monitored by both the club and national team as they assess the implications for the upcoming qualifiers.