Nigeria’s Super Eagles have completed a full 24-man camp in Ikot Ekpene ahead of a must-win 2027 AFCON qualifier against Tanzania, but will do so without talisman Victor Osimhen.Osimhen, who has 35 goals in 45 caps for Nigeria, was ruled out after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery following an injury sustained for Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League win over Stuttgart.
This is the second consecutive international window he will miss.Head coach Eric Chelle has turned to Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare and Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi to lead the line, a decision that has already sparked debate after Kelechi Iheanacho — with 17 goals in Turkey for Bursaspor — was left out of the squad.
17 players opened training on Tuesday in Uyo after flight delays at Victor Attah International Airport, including Stanley Nwabali, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina and Moses Simon. Seven more, including Wilfred Ndidi and new invitee Mubarak Suleiman, joined on Wednesday.Nigeria sits second in Group L with 3 points, after beating Madagascar 2-1 and losing 3-0 to Guinea-Bissau.
Tanzania, co-hosts of the 2027 AFCON with Kenya and Uganda, are already qualified but are level on one point with Madagascar.The first leg kicks off Friday, November 13, 5pm WAT at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, live on SuperSport. The return leg is November 17 in Dar es Salaam.
Source: Legit,PUNCH Sports