- Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen was substituted at halftime during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier loss to DR Congo due to a hamstring injury, according to insider Colin Udoh.
- Nigeria ultimately lost the match 4-3 on penalties, failing to qualify for the World Cup again.
- Udoh highlighted Osimhen’s critical role, noting that Nigeria has never lost a game when the striker scored or assisted, suggesting his absence in the second half significantly impacted the outcome.
Super Eagles star striker Victor Osimhen was substituted at halftime during Nigeria’s crucial match against DR Congo on Sunday due to a hamstring injury, according to insider Colin Udoh.
The match ended in a disappointing 4-3 penalty shootout loss for Nigeria, meaning the country failed to qualify for the World Cup for the second time in a row.
The substitution of Osimhen, who had been the team’s engine room and scored five goals in the two games prior to the encounter, shocked Super Eagles supporters. He was replaced by Sevilla striker Akor Adams.
Speaking to ESPN, Udoh confirmed the reason for the unexpected withdrawal:
“He was taken off at halftime. I got a call into the team and I found out that he had a hamstring problem and that’s why he was taken off at halftime.”
Udoh also highlighted the significant impact of the star’s exit, noting a striking statistic:
“Whenever Osimhen has played and scored or assisted, Nigeria have never lost a game.”
He added:
“The moment he went off at halftime, I just knew something was about to happen. But yeah, that’s the situation unfortunately.”