2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Osimhen out Nigeria’s matches with injury, replaced by Kenneth Igboke
Napoli forward Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of Nigeria’s upcoming matches ahead of next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers.
The reigning African Footballer of the Year is reportedly injured and will be out for the next four weeks, forcing him to be sidelined for the matches against South Africa and Benin Republic.
Osimhen, 25, will be replaced by home-based defender Kenneth Igboke, who plays as a left back for Enugu Rangers, the current leaders of the Nigeria Premier Football League.
Camp update: Africa Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen is injured and out for 4 weeks. Super Eagles’ Coach Finidi George has called up Enugu Rangers’ left back Kenneth Igboke for the WC qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Rep. #soarsupereagles pic.twitter.com/uEGaYBoG1n
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) May 28, 2024
Osimhen, who was crucial to Nigeria’s run to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, has yet to feature for the Super Eagles in their World Cup qualifiers, missing their first two games in the group due to injury.
He last played for Napoli on Sunday, after coming off the bench in their goalless draw against Lecce in the final game of their disappointing Serie A campaign, in which they ended up in 10th place.
The Super Eagles are currently third in Group C with two points from their first two games following 1-1 draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
The George Finidi-led team will be up against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in matchday 3 of the African qualifiers, with the game scheduled to take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, on June 7.
They will then take on the Cheetahs of Benin Republic, led by former Eagles boss Gernot Rohr, on Monday, June 10, at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
