Tremendous Eagles’ coach, Eric Chelle has confirmed that he yanked Victor Osimhen off at half time of Sunday’s African closing of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification play-offs towards DR Congo as a result of the Galatasaray of Turkey striker was injured.
Sports247 stories that Nigerian followers had been left mouths agape firstly of the second half, after they seen that Osimhen was not stepping out with the staff and everybody feared a dip in kind for the Eagles.
The preliminary suggestion was that Osimhen had been dropped as a consequence of disciplinary points within the Eagles’ dressing room, however these had been dominated out later within the day, however the query turned which sort of harm did he cop.
Some stories indicated that Osimhen was pressured out by abdomen discomfort, whereas others cited a scratch within the face he suffered early within the sport that required an extended spell of remedy.
Nonetheless, Chelle has disclosed that Osimhen had to get replaced as a consequence of harm in his leg and the tactician went on to accuse DR Congo of utilizing juju through the resultant penalties’ shootout.
Chelle disclosed: “Osimhen was substituted at half time as a consequence of discomfort he felt behind his leg. Throughout the entire penalties, the gamers of Congo had been doing a little voodoo.
“Throughout the penalty choice, a man of Congo did some voodoo … each time, each time, each time. So, that was why I used to be somewhat nervous (and I went) after him. (I noticed) one thing like that. , with the … I don’t know if it was water or one thing like that.”
With the African playoffs now over and Nigeria out of the intercontinental race, Chelle will now flip his consideration in the direction of the Africa Cup of Nations, the place his staff has been drawn in Group C with Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania.
The competitors will maintain in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026; with Nigeria’s first match developing at Fez Stadium towards Tanzania on December twenty third.
