Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen is a major doubt for the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against South Africa on Wednesday after he missed the team’s flight from Abidjan to Bouaké due to an abdominal discomfort.
The Napoli star, who has been pivotal to the team so far, was left behind in the Ivorian capital as the rest of the Super Eagles squad traveled to the venue of the last-four clash.
According to a statement from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Osimhen is under close watch by the team medics and will undergo further tests on Wednesday morning to determine his fitness.
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If cleared, he will join his teammates before the kick-off at the Stade de la Paix.
Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro will be hoping that his top scorer will be available for the crucial match, as the three-time champions aim to reach their first AFCON final since 2013.
Osimhen, who was named the African Footballer of the Year at the 2023 CAF awards, has been in superb form for club and country this season, scoring 8 goals in 18 appearances for Napoli and 21 goals in 33 caps for Nigeria.
He is currently the joint-third all-time highest goalscorer of the Nigeria national team, alongside Yakubu Aiyegbeni and behind only Rashidi Yekini and Segun Odegbami.