Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen will undergo knee surgery on Saturday, a fresh injury blow that leaves him a doubt for the Super Eagles' two crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania.

Galatasaray confirmed on Friday that the 27-year-old strained his left knee during the club's 2-0 Champions League win over VfB Stuttgart, and that MRI scans found a loose body in the joint. The Turkish champions said he would have arthroscopic surgery at Maslak Acibadem Hospital in Istanbul, carried out by club doctor Yener Ince.

Doubt for the Tanzania double-header

The club has withdrawn Osimhen from its league squad for Saturday's match against Amed Sportif Faaliyetler, and has given no timetable for his return. His availability for Nigeria's qualifiers — at home in Uyo on 13 November and away in Dar es Salaam on 17 November — remains uncertain, with BusinessDay reporting he is expected to miss both games.

The timing is poor for head coach Eric Chelle. Nigeria lost their previous qualifier to Guinea-Bissau and need maximum points from the double-header to revive a faltering campaign, with the final round of matches due in March 2027.

A long absence from the national team

Osimhen has not played for Nigeria since the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final defeat to Morocco in Rabat, so his absence extends a long wait for the Super Eagles' most prolific striker to return to the side.

The injury also removes one of Galatasaray's key attackers at a busy point in their season. The club confirmed the surgery in a statement on its official X account on Friday, and said Osimhen had been removed from the squad for the weekend fixture.