Osimhen to have knee surgery, set to miss Nigeria's AFCON qualifiers
- Galatasaray say Victor Osimhen strained his left knee in a Champions League match against VfB Stuttgart.
- An MRI found a loose body in the knee and he will have arthroscopic surgery on Saturday in Istanbul.
- The striker is expected to miss Nigeria's 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Tanzania on 13 and 17 November.
Victor Osimhen is to have surgery on his left knee, Galatasaray said on Friday, in a blow to Nigeria before this month's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania.
The Turkish club said the Super Eagles striker strained the knee during their UEFA Champions League match against VfB Stuttgart. An MRI scan then found a loose body in the joint.
Galatasaray said the arthroscopic operation will take place on Saturday at Maslak Acıbadem Hospital, performed by the club's doctor, Yener İnce. The club also said Osimhen has been taken out of the squad for its next domestic game against Amed Sportif Faaliyetler.
No return date has been given. The sources differ on his age: Vanguard reported 26, while Premium Times said 27.
Why it matters for the Super Eagles
Nigeria host Tanzania in Uyo on 13 November, then travel for the return leg on 17 November. Osimhen is expected to miss both games, leaving coach Éric Chelle without one of his most important attackers.
It is a familiar problem for Chelle. Osimhen was named in the squad for September's opening qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau but pulled out after his recovery from a muscle injury took longer than expected. That injury, to his right adductor muscle group, came in Galatasaray's 3-2 win over Istanbul Basaksehir on 4 September.
Nigeria are in Group L with Tanzania, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. Tanzania qualify automatically as co-hosts of the 2027 finals alongside Kenya and Uganda, so the other three teams are competing for the group's remaining qualifying place.
What happens next
Nigerians will be watching Saturday's operation and waiting for Galatasaray to say how long Osimhen will be out. The club has not given a timeline.
Chelle is expected to name his squad for the Tanzania double-header, and the forward line will now be built without the striker. A good result in Uyo would ease the pressure on a team that has already had to cope without him in this campaign.
