Bafana Bafana boosted as Osimhen injury clouds Nigeria clash

The good news for Bafana Bafana as they prepare to cement their position atop Group C of Africa’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers by beating their main nemesis Nigeria on Tuesday is that the Super Eagles could be without their top striker.

Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen was injured in Saturday night’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Uyo and has reportedly been left out of the West Africans’ travelling squad for the Matchday 8 clash at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.

The Galatasaray attacker was clearly singled out for special attention by Rwanda, who hardly gave him breathing space and had their defenders continuously snapping at his heels. Left complaining to the match officials for protection, which was not forthcoming, the striker – who plays with a protective mask – spent a significant amount of time writhing in pain on the turf after being kicked hard.

One such challenge saw him substituted 10 minutes before the break of a match the Super Eagles won courtesy of a scrambled goal by Tolu Arokodare.

On Sunday morning, Osimhen – according to Nigerian soccer commentator Onah Khosi, who spoke to Independent Media and works for Nigeriainfo FM – awoke with pain and discomfort in his shin, and the team doctor ruled him out of the match against Bafana.

“The Super Eagles media officer has just announced to us that Victor Osimhen isn’t travelling to South Africa,” Khosi said. “Minutes ago we were briefed by the Federation.”

Further reports from Nigeria have suggested that Osimhen will return to Turkey, where he will be treated at his club.

South Africans, though, will only believe it when the Nigerians trot on to the field on Tuesday evening, the Super Eagles having previously made a similar announcement about Osimhen’s unavailability only for the tall striker, with his peroxide-coloured hair, to be in the starting team.

Yet, should he not be available, Bafana will feel half the battle is won, given that without the 26-year-old Osimhen, Nigeria will be a touch blunt up front. His replacement in the match against Rwanda, Cyriel Dessers, is not of equal quality to the former Inter Milan goal poacher.

Granted, reigning African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman is still in the squad and – along with the rest of his teammates – will provide a stern test for Hugo Broos’ somewhat weakened side, given the absence of some key regular defenders in particular. But Osimhen remains the Super Eagles’ talisman, his presence on the field a threat to every defence thanks to his ability to harass markers even off the ball.

He is a goal poacher of note, a player in whose presence no defence can breathe easy.

Tuesday’s encounter is a must-win affair for Nigeria, who trail Bafana by six points with three rounds of matches to go, and they will certainly feel hard done by Osimhen’s absence. The Super Eagles have made it clear they cannot afford to miss out on yet another World Cup appearance, particularly with the majority of their players in their late twenties and essentially facing a final chance to feature at the global showpiece.

Osimhen is one of those, and he and his fellow countrymen would be gutted were his absence to contribute to Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 spectacle being dashed on Tuesday evening.