Victor Osimhen out of Nigeria's AFCON qualifiers with groin strain

Victor Osimhen will miss Nigeria's AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, and the friendly against Russia in October, because of a groin muscle strain. Taiwo Awoniyi of Coventry has been called up in his place.

Nigeria announced the decision on social media. "Victor Osimhen will miss Nigeria's AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau as he continues to recover from a muscle strain," the team wrote. "We wish Victor a speedy recovery."

Madagascar visit Uyo on Friday in Group L. The trip to Guinea-Bissau follows four days later.

Osimhen was hurt in the 33rd minute at Istanbul Basaksehir on September 4, having scored the opening goal in a 3-2 win. Doctors diagnosed a muscle injury and pain in the right thigh. He has since missed three Galatasaray games: the 3-1 Champions League defeat by Sporting, the 1-0 win over Kocaelispor and Saturday's 4-0 loss at Trabzonspor.

Turkish reports earlier in the week said Galatasaray had asked the Nigeria Football Federation to rest the 27-year-old through the whole international break. According to Goal, the federation turned the request down. Osimhen's absence from the squad now settles the matter anyway.

He had scored six goals in four Super Lig appearances this season. For Nigeria he has 35 goals in 51 caps, and Eric Chelle's side, who failed to qualify for the World Cup, now go into two qualifiers without their leading scorer. Awoniyi joined Coventry last month and has one goal for them.

If the strain clears as expected, Osimhen could be back for Galatasaray after the break, which is what the club wanted from the start. Nigeria, meanwhile, will have to find goals elsewhere in a group where every point counts.