Nigeria coach offers update on Osimhen’s fitness for Bafana clash

Uncertainty swirls around the Nigerian camp as head coach Jose Peseiro offers an update on Victor Osimhen’s fitness ahead of the much-anticipated AFCON semi-final clash against Bafana Bafana on Wednesday.

Osimhen, crucial to Nigeria’s attacking threat, has been battling an abdominal issue, and his availability for the high-stakes encounter at the Stade Bouaké in Bouaké, Ivory Coast (19:00) remains unclear.

Coach Peseiro’s comments on Osimhen’s injury situation adds to the heightened tension surrounding Nigeria’s AFCON semi-final against South Africa.

The Napoli hitman did not travel with the rest of the Nigeria squad to their training camp in Bouake, raising concerns about his fitness for the semis game.

The Nigeria FA released a statement just before the national team’s departure on Monday, citing an abdominal issue requiring Osimhen to remain in Abidjan for medical evaluation.

“Members of the team travelled from Abidjan to Bouaké today via a 10pm Air Cote D’Ivoire flight,” reads the statement. “Osimhen did not, however, make the trip as a result of abdominal discomfort.

“Team medics confirmed that he has been placed under close watch with a member of the medical team staying behind in Abidjan with him. If cleared by tomorrow morning [Wednesday], he will join the rest of the squad before 5pm.”

The exact nature and cause of the discomfort remains unclear, but the striker appeared somewhat fatigued when substituted late in the quarterfinal win over Angola.

NIGERIA COACH ADDRESSES VICTOR OSIMHEN FITNESS CONCERNS

“I cannot answer right because it’s a problem with health, and I think this afternoon I can know better if he can play or not,” said José Peseiro in his brief answer.

The current African Player of the Year, Osimhen’s high-pressing style and tireless movement have been the cornerstone of the Nigerian attack. He has contributed to four of their six AFCON goals, including the crucial opener against Equatorial Guinea.

However, coach Peseiro possesses a talented pool of attackers ready to step up if Osimhen is not fit for the Bafana game. Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho, Trabzonspor’s Paul Onuachu and OGC Nice’s Terem Moffi can cause the Bafana defence issues.

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