Photo: Napoli’s Osimhen breaks silence on missing Super Eagles’ first flight to Bouake

Victor Osimhen has only scored one goal for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, and several of his scores have been cancelled for various reasons

Soccernet.ng reports that just two days before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final showdown between Nigeria and South Africa, Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen shared a revealing image of himself receiving medical treatment in a hospital.

Hours before the team’s departure from their Abidjan base to Bouaké, the Napoli forward, as announced by the Super Eagles spokesperson, Babafemi Raji, disclosed that he would be unable to travel with the squad due to an abdominal issue.

However, Osimhen was subsequently cleared to join the team and ultimately led Jose Peseiro’s frontline against the Bafana Bafana.

During the match, Osimhen won a penalty for the Super Eagles with a powerful run, expertly converted by team captain William Troost-Ekong, giving Nigeria the lead.

Despite Osimhen initially scoring to extend the lead, the goal was later disallowed after VAR detected a preceding foul, resulting in South Africa being awarded a penalty, which Teboho Mokoena converted.

After a nail-biting encounter that ended in a 1-1 draw even after extra time, the Super Eagles secured their spot in the final with a 4-2 victory in the penalty shootout.

Post-match, Osimhen took to Instagram to share details of his pre-game hospital visit, showcasing his unwavering commitment to Nigeria.

The Super Eagles are now set to face Côte d’Ivoire in the final on Sunday, with Osimhen poised to contribute towards securing the team’s fourth AFCON trophy.

Ayomide Oguntimehin

Ayomide holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English and currently works as a News Writer. He has more than five years of experience in digital journalism, with a strong background in researching and writing compelling news.