Relief in Eagles’ camp as Osimhen joins team for South Africa clash

Nigeria’s forward Victor Osimhen looks on during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 Group A football match between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan, on January 14, 2024. (Photo by Issouf SANOGO / AFP)

Relief swept through Super Eagles’ camp yesterday when the team’s doctors announced that African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, is fit to play in Nigeria’s semifinal clash with South Africa at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles will meet the Bafana Bafana in a repeat of the clash at the National Stadium, Lagos, at the same stage when Nigeria and Ghana co-hosted the event in 2000.

Super Eagles’ camp was thrown into confusion on Monday when it emerged that the African Footballer of the Year was suffering from abdominal discomfort. According to reports, Osimhen’s condition was so bad that he could not join the rest of the squad on their flight from Abidjan to Bouake on Monday night.

Super Eagles Media Officer, Babafemi Raji, told The Guardian that the team’s doctors were working to ensure Osimhen gets well enough to play against South Africa, adding, however, that if he failed to be fit to play, the coaches would replace him with either Paul Onuachu or Moffi Terem.

He debunked reports on some websites that the Napoli star has been cleared to play today, saying, “that would be decided when he gets to Bouaké and the medics do another assessment. He was only cleared to fly from Abidjan to Bouaké to join the team.”

However, Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) Director, Media, Ademola Olajire, cleared all doubts about Osimhen’s availability for the game, yesterday, when he simply said: “Osimhen has been cleared to play.”

The 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner,