Nigerian football star Victor Osimhen is facing a race against time to recover from abdominal discomfort ahead of the Super Eagles’ crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final showdown against South Africa.
Babafemi Raji, the media officer for the Super Eagles, revealed the concerning development in a statement issued on Monday. According to Raji, the 25-year-old striker was left behind in Abidjan, where he received close medical attention from the team’s medical staff.
“While the rest of the team travelled to Buoke, the city where the semi-final match will be held, Victor Osimhen remained in Abidjan, where he is under close watch with a member of the medical team,” Raji stated in the announcement.
The statement further outlined the plan for Osimhen’s potential return to the squad, indicating that if cleared by the following morning, he would rejoin his teammates before 5 pm.
“We will fly from Abidjan to Bouaké today via a 10 pm Air Cote D’Ivoire flight,” the statement elaborated. “Victor Osimhen will not join us on this trip as a result of an abdominal discomfort. Team medics confirmed that he has been placed under close watch, with a member of the medical team staying behind in Abidjan with him. If cleared by tomorrow morning, he will join the rest of the squad before 5 pm.”
Despite the update on Osimhen’s condition, the statement did not provide clarity on whether the injury might rule him out of contention for the crucial semi-final clash against South Africa, scheduled for Wednesday at 6 pm.
