Victor Osimhen: Nigeria striker 'faces weeks on the sidelines' with hamstring injury | OneFootball

Galatasaray star may miss derby clash

Victor Osimhen is set to undergo scans on a suspected hamstring injury after he was forced off at half-time of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying defeat by DR Congo.

Nigeria will miss a second consecutive World Cup as they were beaten by Congo after a penalty shootout, but salt was rubbed in the wound as talismanic Galatasaray striker Osimhen came off injured.

He was in tears as he was replaced by Akor Adams, and was later spotted limping around the pitch at full-time.

Speaking after the match, Super Eagles boss Eric Chelle said: “Osimhen was substituted at half-time due to discomfort he felt behind his leg.”

According to reports in the Turkish press, the Galatasaray star is en route back to Istanbul and will undergo an MRI scan upon his return.

Speaking on Sky Spor TR, Turkish journalist Ali Naci Kucuk said Osimhen was at risk of missing a crunch derby clash with cross-town rivals Fenerbahce on December 1.

Kucuk said: "A meeting was held with Osimhen late last night. The exact situation will become clear after the MRI.

“[There is] suspicion of either a muscle or hamstring injury. Osimhen couldn't continue the match because he felt pain in one of the two areas.

“I think there's a 51% chance Osimhen won't play in the Fenerbahçe derby in Kadıköy."

Osimhen, who has struggled with thigh and hamstring injuries in recent seasons, has just five weeks to recover in time to represent Nigeria in their opening AFCON tie against Tanzania on December 23.

The Super Eagles’ top scorer hit an extra-time brace to sink Gabon and send Nigeria to the play-off final last week, but could not match those heroics in Rabat on Sunday.

He was quick to console his team-mates after the shootout defeat, though, and will hope to get back to winning ways at AFCON - should he recover in time.