AFCON 2025: Osimhen departs Super Eagles camp ahead of Third-Place Playoff

Nigeria have been dealt a significant blow ahead of Saturday’s AFCON 2025 third-place match against Egypt after star striker Victor Osimhen left the Super Eagles camp in Morocco.

The Galatasaray forward departed Casablanca on Thursday to return to Turkey, where he will continue treatment on the injury he sustained during Nigeria’s semi-final defeat to hosts Morocco.

Osimhen’s absence is a major setback for head coach Eric Chelle, who had hoped to have his leading attacker available for the final game of the tournament. The striker picked up the knock in the bruising semi-final encounter and, after medical assessments, the decision was taken for him to return to his club to begin rehabilitation under Galatasaray’s supervision.

Throughout the competition, Osimhen has been one of Nigeria’s key figures, providing leadership, goals, and constant attacking threat. His exit from camp not only weakens Nigeria’s options going forward but also underlines the physical toll of a demanding AFCON campaign. As the Super Eagles turn their focus to the third-place playoff against Egypt, Chelle will now have to reshuffle his attack, hoping his remaining forwards can step up and finish the tournament on a positive note despite the absence of their talisman.