Napoli Assures Nigeria of Victor Osimhen’s Availability for World Cup Qualifiers

Napoli Assures Nigeria of Victor Osimhen’s Availability for World Cup Qualifiers

Chukwu Ikechukwu
May 18, 2024 at 6:25 AM
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V. Osimhen
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Nigeria logo
Nigeria
Nigeria
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Napoli
Italy
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Super Eagles logo
Super Eagles
South Africa
FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF) logo
FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)
Africa
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ITA Serie A
Italy
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Benin
Benin
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South Africa
South Africa
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  • Victor Osimhen will be available for Nigeria’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers
  • The Napoli striker has been a doubt for both games after picking up an injury
  • Nigeria will tackle South Africa and Benin in back-to-back games in June

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Nigeria have been assured Victor Osimhen will be available for its upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin next month despite his injury scare.

The Super Eagles face two must-win games against both Group C opponents but their preparations have been hampered by injuries to key players, including the Napoli star striker.

Victor Osimhen, Napoli, Nigeria, Super Eagles, FIFA, CAF, South Africa
Victor Osimhen battled an injury scare but Napoli have assured that the striker should be fit for Nigeria's World Cup qualifying games in June. Photo by Mondadori Portfolio.
Source: Getty Images

According to The Guardian, Osimhen joined Nigeria’s lengthy injury list after picking up a muscle injury during Napoli’s Serie A game last weekend and could be out of both games.

Samuel Chukwueze, Bruno Onyemaechi, Tyrone Ebuehi, Moses Simon, and Zaidu Sanusi are some of the Super Eagles battling varying degrees of injuries and are expected to miss the World Cup qualifiers.

Nigeria are currently third in their group behind Rwanda and South Africa with two points from their opening two games and just need to win against Bafana Bafana and the Squirrels to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup.

Napoli assures of Osimhen’s availability

Meanwhile, Napoli has given the Nigeria Football Federation an update on Osimhen’s injury and has assured the Nigerian striker should be available for the World Cup qualifiers in June, Own Goal Nigeria reports.

The Italian club says the 25-year-old forward is not as badly injured as first feared and is already undergoing fitness work in the gym to prepare for his comeback in their final game of the season.

Osimhen has scored 17 goals and created four assists in 31 games for Napoli this season and should take to the pitch when the 2022/23 Serie A champions tackle Lecce in their final game.

Finidi sweats over Osimhen’s injury

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George, could be without Osimhen for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and the Benin Republic.

The Nigerian striker featured in Napoli's 2-0 loss to Bologna in the Italian Serie A at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Saturday.

The Super Eagles star was on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes of play but could miss Nigeria's next qualifying games.

Authors
Chukwu Ikechukwu photo
Chukwu Ikechukwu
Chukwu Ikechukwu Godwin is a journalist with over 9 years of experience in the Nigerian media industry. He has worked both in Radio (Today FM, Rhythm FM, Wish FM) and Television (Silverbird TV) as a Sports Analyst..