Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has left Nigeria’s camp in Casablanca, Morocco, ahead of Saturday’s AFCON 2025 third-place playoff against Egypt.
The Galatasaray forward departed on Thursday to return to Turkey for treatment after sustaining an injury during Nigeria’s semi-final defeat to hosts Morocco.
Osimhen, who captained the Super Eagles in the semi-final following Wilfred Ndidi’s suspension, picked up the knock late in the game and was eventually substituted.
Sources within the Nigerian camp say his early departure follows standard international practice, where clubs prefer to supervise the medical care of their players.
“Since he is injured and won’t feature in the third-place match, he decided to return early for treatment,” a camp source revealed. “That is a normal procedure. Clubs believe their medical teams understand the players better.”
CHELLE SET TO ROTATE SQUAD
Osimhen’s absence strengthens expectations that head coach Eric Chelle will rotate his squad heavily for the playoff against the Pharaohs.
Reports suggest the Malian tactician plans to hand opportunities to fringe and bench players — similar to Nigeria’s group-stage match against Uganda, which saw several changes.
“There isn’t usually much emphasis placed on third-place matches,” another source explained. “If Nigeria had reached the final, Osimhen might have stayed on, but under the circumstances, it made sense for him to leave.”
BASSEY ALSO OUT
Nigeria will also be without Calvin Bassey for the clash against Egypt. The Fulham defender is suspended after receiving his second yellow card of the tournament during the semi-final, despite putting in a standout defensive performance against Morocco.
Victor Osimhen has been one of Nigeria’s key figures at AFCON 2025, leading the line with intensity and leadership. His decision to return to club duty underlines the physical demands of the tournament and the growing influence of European clubs over international player management.
Nigeria will face Egypt in the AFCON 2025 third-place match on Saturday at 5pm, with Eric Chelle expected to reshuffle his lineup as the Super Eagles aim to finish their campaign on a positive note.
