‘A very big player’ – Tanzania captain reacts to Osimhen’s absence ahead of Nigeria clash

According to a report by Daily Post on Friday November 13, 2026, Tanzania captain Himid Mao Mkami has acknowledged the quality of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen following his absence from Nigeria’s squad ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying encounter against the Taifa Stars.

The two countries are scheduled to meet on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, with Nigeria looking to secure a positive result in their quest to qualify for the continental tournament.

However, the Super Eagles will have to navigate the encounter without one of their most important players after Osimhen was left out of Eric Chelle’s squad because of fitness concerns.

The Galatasaray striker picked up an injury during his club’s UEFA Champions League victory over Stuttgart, forcing him to miss their subsequent league fixture against Amedspor before the international break.

His absence represents a significant setback for Nigeria, considering his importance to the team’s attacking department and his reputation as one of Africa’s leading forwards.

Speaking during the pre-match press conference, Tanzania captain Mkami admitted that Osimhen is a top-quality player whose presence could have made a positive difference for the Super Eagles.

The midfielder, however, insisted that Tanzania are preparing to face Nigeria as a team rather than focusing on the absence of individual players.

“First I think we are playing Nigeria, regardless of who is playing and who is not, they would still be the best team,” Mkami stated.

The Tanzania captain went on to describe Osimhen as a very important player, while expressing confidence that the remaining Nigerian players are capable of delivering a good performance.

“Osimhen is a very big player, we respect him, maybe his presence will make a positive impact to his team but we are playing Nigeria tomorrow, so I hope the rest of the team will do the job as he was there also,” he added.

Mkami’s comments suggest that Tanzania are not taking Nigeria lightly despite the absence of the former Napoli striker.

The Taifa Stars captain also explained that his country remain determined to compete in the encounter even though they have already secured qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

According to Mkami, Tanzania intend to use their remaining qualifying fixtures to improve their preparations and build a stronger team ahead of the continental competition.

“Of course we have already qualified but we also need to build a team and prepare for the competition. So, we also came here to compete and prepare our team for the next African Cup of Nations,” he explained.

The midfielder further highlighted the importance of unity within the Tanzanian squad, insisting that the team are focused on achieving their objectives through collective effort rather than depending on individual players.

Meanwhile, Osimhen will be hoping that his teammates can secure a positive result against Tanzania despite his absence.

The Nigerian striker has already missed the Super Eagles’ 2027 AFCON qualifying matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in September, making his latest absence another disappointment for the national team.

With Osimhen unavailable, Chelle will have to depend on alternative attacking options, including Taiwo Awoniyi and Tolu Arokodare, to provide the goals against the Taifa Stars.

Arokodare, in particular, will be hoping to build on his impressive start to the campaign with Ajax, where he has recorded 13 goals and four assists in 17 appearances across all competitions.

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