Osimhen's Adductor Strain Could Sideline Him for Three Weeks, Putting Champions League Opener and AFCON Qualifiers at Risk

Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has suffered a moderate to severe strain of his right adductor muscle and is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks. MRI and advanced examinations at the club's partner hospital revealed a moderate to severe strain in the right adductor muscle group, accompanied by bleeding and muscle fiber tearing. This injury means he will not only miss the team's first Champions League group-stage match this season, but is also highly likely to be absent from national team duty.

The injury occurred during Friday's away league match against Istanbul Basaksehir in the Turkish Super Lig. Osimhen opened the scoring for his side in the 16th minute, but was forced off in the 33rd minute and replaced by Baris Alper Yilmaz. Despite being equalized twice, Galatasaray ultimately won 3-2 thanks to a late winner from Gabriel Sara.

According to the schedule, Osimhen will miss the Champions League opener away to Sporting CP on Wednesday, and is very likely to be unavailable for Nigeria's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar at home on September 25 and away to Guinea-Bissau on September 29. However, he is expected to recover in time for the second Champions League league-phase match before Barcelona visit Istanbul on October 13.

Osimhen has started the season in outstanding form, contributing 6 goals and 2 assists in just 4 Super Lig appearances. His absence is a heavy blow to both club and country. Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle will lose his top scorer ahead of the qualifiers, and with another forward, Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor), also forced off injured in Sunday's 5-0 thrashing of Genclerbirligi, the attacking crisis has deepened further.

Nigeria are in Group L alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and co-hosts Tanzania. Since Tanzania have already qualified automatically, only the highest-ranked team in the group is guaranteed to advance, making the competition extremely intense. In addition, Osimhen's absence also temporarily slows his pursuit of the national team's all-time scoring record. Yekini scored 37 goals in 58 appearances for Nigeria between 1984 and 1998 and remains the country's all-time top scorer; Osimhen scored 8 goals in 7 appearances in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and is just two goals shy of that record. His most recent international goal came in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final in January, where Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0.