Victor Osimhen injured: Five players who could replace him in Eric Chelle’s team

According to a report by Daily Post on Saturday November 7, 2026, Victor Osimhen, a striker for Galatasaray, is set to miss Nigeria’s forthcoming matches after undergoing knee surgery, posing a significant selection challenge for head coach Eric Chelle of the Super Eagles.

Since the striker has become an integral part of the Nigerian national team, his absence will be a major blow when they face Tanzania in their upcoming AFCON 2027 qualifiers.

The 27-year-old’s leadership, mobility, strength, and goal-scoring abilities have made him an integral part of Nigeria’s offensive strategies.

If the former Napoli striker is unable to contribute, Chelle still has a number of attacking options at their disposal.

If injured, any of these five players could step in for Osimhen for the Super Eagles.

After his stellar play in Turkey, Kelechi Iheanacho has emerged as a frontrunner to succeed Osimhen.

Returning to his goal-scoring ways, the seasoned forward has been a consistent scorer for his club.

Before Bandirmaspor ended his remarkable run, he supposedly scored in 12 straight matches.

Scoring in a match against Russia after making a triumphant return to the Super Eagles setup, the 30-year-old has further proven his worth to the national squad.

The absence of Osimhen could be advantageous for Gift Orban and other forwards.

The striker from Nigeria has been on fire recently in Turkey, where he has been a major attraction thanks to his goal-scoring exploits.

Orban has a reputation for being a physical player who presses the opposition relentlessly and creates scoring chances from inside the penalty area.

One of Chelle’s obvious choices, his playing style has been compared to that of Osimhen.

Chelle may also think about Ademola Lookman, but she would have to change her tactics to use him as a center forward.

Although he is not a conventional striker, the former African Footballer of the Year is a valuable asset due to his adaptability and offensive prowess.

At the Africa Cup of Nations, Lookman and Osimhen worked well together, and their chemistry was a major factor in Nigeria’s offensive threat.

Chelle has the option of putting him in a more advanced role or pairing him with another striker to enhance the Super Eagles’ creativity and mobility.

The Super Eagles may also give young striker George Ilenikhena a chance to prove himself.

The 20-year-old has demonstrated signs of his ability on the international stage and is considered one of Nigeria’s promising attacking prospects.

His goal against Madagascar made an impression, and he shares many attributes with Osimhen, such as strength, direct attacking movement, and speed.

He may get a chance to show what he can do in the forthcoming qualifiers, despite rumors that he’s been struggling at club level.

Last but not least among the candidates to succeed Osimhen is Tolu Arokodare.

Reportedly having a fantastic season, the powerful Nigerian striker has made 16 appearances, scored 12 goals, and assisted on 4 more.

He has shown time and time again that he can score goals and add offensive production to his team.

In addition to his physical presence, Arokodare has good aerial ability, can hold the ball, and could be an asset for Nigeria against tough opponents.