Star Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen faces an increasing chance of missing the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after his club, Galatasaray, disclosed that he remains under medical observation following a hamstring injury sustained during the recent World Cup-qualifying playoffs.
According to a report on November 27, 2025, Galatasaray have placed the Super Eagles forward on a projected “minimum three-week layoff,” raising doubts about his readiness for Nigeria’s continental campaign, which begins less than a month from now. The club expressed frustration over what it described as “excessive use” of Osimhen during the qualifiers, especially in the first-leg playoff match against Gabon national football team, where he completed 120 minutes including extra time despite advice that his involvement be limited.
That extended workload, the club says, likely aggravated the injury, casting serious doubt over the player’s capacity to recover in time for the tournament.
For Coach Eric Sekou Chelle and Super Eagles’ team as a whole, the potential absence of Osimhen is a big challenge. The 2023 African Footballer of the Year had been central to Nigeria’s attacking plans, and the team’s offensive setup has been built around his presence.
If Osimhen fails to recover in time, the Super Eagles may need to look at alternate striking options for AFCON 2025, a move that could greatly affect Nigeria’s game plan and overall attacking threat.
This development revives an older debate around club vs. country obligations. Sources at Galatasaray reportedly believe Osimhen was overplayed during national team duty, compromising his recovery and availability for upcoming tournaments which has always been a concern often raised by European clubs whenever African internationals participate in congested schedules.
With only weeks left before AFCON 2025 kicks off in Morocco, the situation remains delicate. Both club and country will be monitoring Osimhen’s recovery closely and may need to make decisive calls in the coming days.
Medical updates from Galatasaray are expected soon. If the three-week recovery timeline holds, it may still leave Osimhen with a narrow window to prove fitness before Nigeria’s first match on December 23. Until then, Nigeria’s fans will be watching anxiously and hopeful that their star striker can return in time to lead the attack.
