By Daily Sports Nigeria on September 8, 2025

The Super Eagles arrived in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on Sunday, without star striker Victor Osimhen, who has been ruled out of Tuesday’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying match against the Bafana Bafana, The PUNCH reports.

After their 1-0 win over Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, the team departed for South Africa via a chartered ValueJet flight at about 2 pm on Sunday.

They arrived in South Africa at 6:25 pm local time, as they hope to reignite their campaign in the crunch tie against the hosts.

They will, however, be without Osimhen, who limped off midway through the first half of Saturday’s 1-0 win over Rwanda in Uyo, after a challenge from Claude Niyomugabo.

Further update from the team’s camp on Sunday revealed Osimhen will not be involved in Tuesday’s game after the team doctor’s assessment of his injury.

“Team doctor confirmed Victor Osimhen’s injury is a bruise on his chin. He woke up this morning with discomfort and will not be travelling with the squad to South Africa for Tuesday’s game,” Super Eagles Media Officer, Promise Efoghe wrote.

While the striker is expected to return to Galatasaray for further tests and treatment, his absence in the Super Eagles squad against Bafana Bafana casts a doubt on the team’s strength upfront.

On Saturday, he was replaced by Cyriel Dessers, but the Belgium-born forward didn’t provide much threat for the Rwandans as Osimhen.

Second half substitute, Tolu Arokodare, made the difference with his 51st minute strike to keep Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup hopes alive.

Arokodare will be trusted by coach Eric Chelle to lead the line for Nigeria on Tuesday.

The Super Eagles are at risk of missing a second consecutive World Cup due to their poor start to the qualifying series.

Saturday’s win was their second in seven matches, having drawn four and lost one.

South Africa are top of the group with 16 points, followed by the Benin Republic with 11 points, while the Eagles are third with 10 points.

The top team in the group will join eight other African countries that top their respective groups to pick the automatic tickets to the tournament, which will be played in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Source Punch Ng

Posted September 8, 2025

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