Victor Osimhen again did not start for the Super Eagles against Rwanda in Kigali and caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen said this was so because there were concerns over the striker’s match fitness following a long-drawn transfer saga involving his club Napoli.
Osimhen started from the bench in both 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda.
Eguavoen said Osimhen has not played an official game in many months and so he is not fit enough to start for the Super Eagles.
“Osimhen is our brother, you can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. We know what he is going through in Napoli. He just moved to Galatasaray and has not been playing active football for a while now,” Eguavoen explained his post-match press conference.
“We are trying to manage his fitness. He played the last 25 minutes in the previous game, and we had a word with him that he can’t play 90 minutes (vs Rwanda) or else he will get injured.”
He said it was also fitness concerns that limited the game time of Nottingham striker Taiwo Awoniyi,
“Awoniyi had a few minutes at his club before joining us,” Eguavoen said.
“We have 23 to 40 players to choose from, but only 11 can start. It’s frustrating, but the bonding is there, and everyone is on board.”
By Aboluwade God’s Treasure AGT
