Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania have suffered a setback, with Victor Osimhen sidelined by injury and defender Semi Ajayi facing a fresh fitness concern.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle named a 24-man squad on Saturday, November 7, but Osimhen missed out after sustaining a left-knee injury during Galatasaray’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Stuttgart.
Galatasaray confirmed that medical scans revealed a loose fragment in the striker’s knee. The club plans to perform arthroscopic surgery, ruling the 27-year-old out of Nigeria’s November fixtures.
Osimhen’s absence leaves Chelle with other attacking options, including Ademola Lookman, Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare, Taiwo Awoniyi, Moses Simon and Moses Usor.
Nigeria could face another setback after Ajayi left the pitch with an injury during Hull City’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday.
The defender went down holding his left leg before Hull substituted him in the 69th minute. Although Chelle included him in the squad, the injury has raised questions about his availability for the qualifiers.
The Super Eagles will host Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on November 13 before travelling for the return fixture on November 17.
Chelle will hope Ajayi recovers in time as Nigeria seek maximum points from both matches to strengthen their position in the race for qualification for the 2027 AFCON, which Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will jointly host.
