Victor Osimhen has been in the limelight for a few seasons now, especially since moving to Napoli from Lille in a big-money transfer. The Nigerian international won a Scudetto in his second season at the club, becoming a popular figure amongst the fans, who adore him very dearly.
Victor Osimhen has been away on international duty with his country, Nigeria, which is participating in the ongoing AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire. Sadly, Osimhen is down sick ahead of his country’s semi-final clash against South Africa in a must-win match for the Super Eagles.
Victor Osimhen injury update
Victor Osimhen did not travel with the rest of the Nigerian squad, as they traveled to another part of Ivory Coast in preparation for their semi-final clash against South Africa. The current holder of the African Player of the Year award did not travel due to abdominal discomfort, according to a statement released by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
“Victor Osimhen will not join us on the trip due to abdominal discomfort,” the Nigeria national team declared.
“Team medics confirmed that he has been placed under close watch with a member of the medical team staying in Abidjan with him. If cleared by tomorrow morning, he will join the rest of the squad before 5 pm,” the statement continued.
Although he has only scored one goal in the continental tournament, the $120 million-rated striker has been a super important figure in the team, which is highlighted by his ability to maintain a high press and also his incredible movements to free up his teammates to score the goals.
Nigeria is searching for its first African Cup of Nations title since 2013, when the late coach Stephen Keshi led the team to glory.
The Super Eagles have beaten Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Angola to secure a place in the final four, where they will face South Africa tomorrow.
Victor Osimhen’s performance in national team colors
Victor Osimhen rose to prominence in the U-17 World Cup in Chile, where he helped Nigeria secure the trophy thanks to his ten goals in seven games. The former Wolfsburg and Lille striker secured the tournament’s Golden Boot, which sent him into the limelight at just 16.
Two years later, he made his senior debut for the Super Eagles as an 18-year-old, making him one of the youngest players to represent Nigeria. Although he missed the FIFA World Cup in 2018, he was recalled back to the team after a successful loan spell in Belgium.
So far, for the senior team, Victor Osimhen has scored 21 goals in 33 games, making him one of the players with the highest goal-per-game ratio in the country’s history. The Chelsea target scored four in an AFCON qualifying game against Sao Tome and Principe in June 2022 before bagging a hat-trick in the reverse fixture in Nigeria.
His sublime performances have caught the eye of many top clubs across Europe, and there is ongoing speculation that he may leave Napoli soon for a bigger club. Which club do you think will be able to secure his services? Make sure to tell us in the comments section.
