Will Nigeria stars Osimhen and Osayi-Samuel be fit for Zimbabwe tie? Eric Chelle provides updates

Nigeria’s hopes of securing back-to-back victories in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers have received a major boost, with head coach Eric Chelle confirming that all Super Eagles players are fit for Tuesday’s crucial encounter against Zimbabwe, Soccernet.ng reports.

There had been concerns over the availability of key stars Victor Osimhen and Bright Osayi-Samuel after both players failed to complete Nigeria’s last match against Rwanda.

However, Chelle has dispelled any fears, insisting that his squad is in peak condition and ready for action.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, the Malian tactician assured fans that there are no injury concerns in the Super Eagles camp.

“No problem; all the players are fine and ready for the match,” Chelle stated confidently.

Osimhen and Osayi-Samuel cleared for action

Osimhen was the standout performer in Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over Rwanda on Friday, netting a superb first-half brace to secure a crucial win.

However, the Galatasaray striker appeared fatigued in the latter stages of the match and was substituted in the 77th minute, with Genk forward Tolu Arokodare making his Super Eagles debut.

Osayi-Samuel, meanwhile, had an even more concerning end to the game.

The Fenerbahce fullback, who started at right-back and put in an impressive shift, was forced off with what seemed to be a dead leg.

With Ola Aina already withdrawn, Chelle had to deploy defensive midfielder Alhassan Yusuf in an unfamiliar right-back role for the final minutes of the contest.

❤️ pic.twitter.com/yDQ5t1HXNg

— Bright Osayi-Samuel (@Bright_097) March 21, 2025

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Despite these setbacks, Chelle’s update will come as a relief for Nigerian fans, as both Osimhen and Osayi-Samuel are now fully fit and available for selection against Zimbabwe.

Nigeria eye vital win in Uyo

Nigeria head into Tuesday’s match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo aiming to strengthen their position in Group C.

Currently fourth with six points, the Super Eagles can climb to nine points with a win, putting them firmly back in contention for a World Cup spot.

Their opponents, Zimbabwe, sit at the bottom of the table with three points and are desperate to turn their fortunes around.

Meanwhile, group leaders South Africa, on 10 points, face second-placed Benin Republic (eight points) in a simultaneous fixture in Abidjan. Elsewhere, fifth-placed Lesotho will take on Rwanda in Kigali.