Osimhen Ruled out of Nigeria’s Friendlies in London
Super Eagles invitee and Vfl Wolfsburg of Germany forward, Victor Osimhen, has been ruled out of Nigeria’s international friendlies against Senegal and Burkina scheduled for March 22 and 27 in London.
Sources at Osimhen’s club hinted yesterday that the former Golden Eaglet had a surgery last week and has been sidelined for the next 12 weeks.
This development means that Eagles Franco German coach, Gernot Rohr, has to look for a replacement for the 18-year old forward whose invitation in the first place caused reaction in football circles in Nigeria as he is yet to make a debut for Wolfsburg since his transfer became official few months ago.
He has suffered so many injury setback, the club was left with no option but to make him go under the knife in a bid to find a permanent solution to his injury problems.
Osimhen exploits with the Golden Eaglets class of 2015 had laid a solid foundation for him to makes his full international bow at senior level.
Meanwhile, Rohr has had a useful meeting with other invitees in the Bundesliga like Leon Balogun and Noah Bazee.
He was however unable to watch Balogun in action for Mainz 05, as he was suspended for the team’s 1-1 draw with Osimhen’s Wolfsburg.
The Nigeria coach was able to observe promising youngster Bazee in action for Hannover.
The 20-year-old, who was born in Germany but is of Nigerian descent, has received his first invitation to the Super Eagles team.
According to Allnigeriasoccer, Rohr and the players held a meeting at an undisclosed location ahead of Eagles two friendlies in London.
Eagles who have been given a deadline date of March 20 to report at the Crowne Plaza Hotel camp in Ealing, London, are to begin training under Rohr same day.
Nigeria is to play Senegal on March 23, followed four days later by a clash against Burkina Faso. Both matches will be played at the Hive Stadium in London.
Nigeria is using the matches to prepare for the start of group stage matches in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Their first game will be against South Africa in June.
Of the 25 players called up by Rohr for the March matches, no less than seven are based in England, including the likes of Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Victor Moses.