2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Will Ngeria's dangerman Victor Osimhen make the trip to face Bafana Bafana? Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle breaks silence on Galatasaray forward's injury

Victor Osihmen lasted just 35 minutes of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier 1-0 victory over Rwanda at Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Saturday.

The Galatasaray forward limped off the match and was later seen with ice strapped on his ankle as Cyriel Dessers replaced him.

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has commented on Osimhen’s injury.

“Victor Osimhen, I don’t know,” Chelle told journalists after the match.

“He has pain in his ankle, and we will see how he feels tomorrow [Sunday]. We will talk to the doctor and the physio and we will see.

“Now we are happy because we won 1-0 and we can go to South Africa with a lot of ambitions. I'm happy because we have the second game in two days.”

Osihmen’s unavailability would be good news for Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos who is preparing his side to face the Super Eagles at Free State Stadium on Tuesday.

This comes as the Belgian had an injury scare of his own when centre-back Thabo Moloisane was substituted against Lesotho on Friday and had his head bandaged.

In the absence of Grant Kekana and Mothobi Mvala, Bafana have the error-prone Siyabonga Ngezana, an inexperienced but fast-improving Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Khulumani Ndamane to face Nigeria forwards who play for big clubs in Europe.

Now, given the Osihmen situation, Chelle will be hoping he will not regret not calling up the likes of Victor Boniface, Umar Sadiq and Taiwo Awoniyi for the current camp.

Meanwhile, Bafana are preparing to host the Super Eagles as they seek to extend their Group C lead.