Victor Osimhen has linked up with the Nigeria Super Eagles squad for the double-header AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
The 25-year-old, who recently weathered a gruelling transfer saga with a late move to Galatasaray, is back to the squad for the first time since 2023 AFCON.
In the footage we have shared below, the former Lille forward could be seen exchanging pleasantries with his Super Eagles teammate after he touched down in Uyo and linked up with the team at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
It is the first time he has featured in the squad after the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast and a bitter fallout with former Super Eagles head coach Finidi George.
Osimhen raised doubts about his possible return to the team after he lashed out at Finidi George for blackmail. In viral Instagram footage, the player blasted the former Ajax player for saying he (Osimhen) wanted to be begged to play for Nigeria after missing the Super Eagles 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and the Benin Republic.
According to him, he was injured but still wanted to link up with the team for the matches but was restrained by Finidi George.
Following the row, reports emerged that Osimhen may not play for the Super Eagles again, but the report was debunked by NFF secretary Mohammed Sanusi.
Meanwhile, the matter died off after Finidi George resigned as Super Eagles’ head coach following a winless two-match run in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Victor Osimhen with the Nigeria national team
Victor Osimhen remains Nigeria Super Eagles’ most potent attacking asset. The prolific forward made his debut with the Nigeria senior national team in 2017, featuring in a 2-0 win over South Africa.
He has won 35 caps with the team, scoring 21 goals. Osimhen’s most notable performance for the Super Eagles was in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers. He scored 10 goals, comprising back-to-back hat-tricks against Sao Tome Principe, to emerge as the top scorer.
He played a crucial role in the team’s run-up to the final of the 2023 AFCON, featuring in the team’s seven matches with a goal and an assist to his name.
Nigeria Super Eagles squad and 2025 AFCON qualifiers
A host of top-level footballers have been invited for the Super Eagles double-header 2025 AFCON qualifiers against. Victor Osimhen leads the list of names of players invited for the two matches.
The on-loan Napoli forward joins his counterpart from Bayer Leverkusen, Victor Boniface, in the team’s attacking options. Sevilla forward Kelechi Iheanacho has also made the squad. 2024 Europa League final hero for Atalanta, Ademola Lookman is also present.
Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi has also made the list. Samuel Chukwueze from AC Milan and Moses Simon from Nantes are also named on the squad.
Stanley Nwabali, who starred for the team in 2023 AFCON, has made the goalkeeping options. William-Troost Ekong, Calvin Bassey, and Ola Aina have been called up in the defence. Check the full list of the squad in our earlier report Here.
Nigeria Super Eagles’ new head coach problem
Notably, the Super Eagles will be going into the two matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda with an interim manager Austin Eguavoen. The team has yet to get a new permanent manager after Finidi George resigned.
Before settling for Austin Eguavoen as interim boss, NFF announced the appointment of German football manager Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach. However, the latter rejected the appointment with reports that there was no agreement between the two parties in the first place.
An NFF update later clarified that Bruno Labbadia rejected the appointment because he could not agree on tax payment conditions in Nigeria.
Nigeria Super Eagles AFCON matches, kickoff and how to watch
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will trade tackles worth the Cheetahs of Benin Republic on Friday, September 7, 2024. The match will take place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo by 16:00GMT.
Also, they will travel to Kigali to take on Rwanda. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, September 10, 2024 by
