Having been pivotal to the silver medal winning team at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Victor Osimhen will not be a part of the squad that will re-group for the first time since after the AFCON in Cote D’Ivoire. The striker returned to scoring form in Napoli after the AFCON netting important goals in the Serie A and the UEFA Champions League but has pulled out of the March squad due to an injury.
Osimhen was invited into the 25 man squad to face Ghana and Mali in Morocco but will now join the likes of Troost Ekong, Victor Boniface, Taiwo Awoniyi to miss out of action due to injuries. the Italy based man will have to wait till the next international window to add to his Super Eagles goal tally as his numbers are rising fast on the ladder. however, he only scored once in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the equaliser against Equatorial Guinea.
it was reported that a host of players including Osimhen played the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with injuries and that was affirmed by Nottingham Forest boss, Nuno Espirito who confirmed that right back Ola Aina played the finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations against Cote D’Ivoire with injuries. He has since been out of action alongside Troost Ekong who is out of the season.
Osimhen miss in the matches against Ghana and Mali will give chances to strikers like Cyril Dessers who have been in good forming for Rangers in Scottish League and has led them to win the Scotland League Cup and Sadiq Umar who missed the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations due to a late injury. Nathan Tella who is also dropped form the final squad of the 2023 AFCON will get his chance to show his qualities like he is at Bayer Leverkusen.
The Super Eagles face Ghana on the 22nd an face Mali on the 26th both in Morocco.