Nigeria, Sept. 20 -- Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen will miss Nigeria's opening two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau after failing to recover from a muscle strain.

The Nigeria national team confirmed his withdrawal on Saturday after the Galatasaray forward was absent from his club's 4-0 defeat to Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig.

According to the Super Eagles media team, Osimhen's recovery has taken longer than initially expected.

"Victor Osimhen's recovery from a muscle strain has been slower than expected. He was included in Nigeria's squad for the AFCON qualifiers because Galatasaray and Super Eagles technical crew were hopeful he would be fit for the Super Lig game versus T...