Nigeria's Super Eagles go into Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against South Africa with two major handicaps: just one training session and no Victor Osimhen, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Super Eagles touched down in Bloemfontein on Sunday evening after a long two-leg journey that included a refuelling stop in Angola. By the time the squad arrived, fatigue was written across the faces of players and staff.
Their only chance to train before facing Bafana Bafana will come on Monday evening at the Toyota Stadium – hardly ideal preparation for one of their toughest fixtures of the campaign.
If that wasn’t enough, Osimhen, Nigeria’s most reliable source of goals, is out.
The Galatasaray forward limped off in the first half of Saturday’s 1-0 win over Rwanda in Uyo with a shin injury. He didn’t travel with the squad, leaving coach Eric Chelle with a huge void to fill.
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Without Osimhen, the responsibility falls on Cyriel Dessers, Ademola Lookman and Tolu Arokodare. The latter scored the winner against Rwanda and is suddenly the man Nigeria must pin their hopes on. But against a disciplined, physical South African back line, the task looks far steeper.
South Africa, meanwhile, couldn’t have asked for better conditions.
Hugo Broos’ men played Lesotho in Bloemfontein on Friday in a match Bafana Bafana won with ease. That gave them not just a full three days’ rest, but also a rehearsal at the same venue where they will meet Nigeria.
By contrast, the Eagles slogged through a bruising qualifier against Rwanda less than 24 hours before boarding their flight south.
Touchdown South Africa ✈️
— Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) September 7, 2025
Focus locked, game mode activated #SoarSuperEagles #Naija4theWin pic.twitter.com/8jqWVCeTKB
It is a scheduling quirk that gives Bafana Bafana a clear edge. They are fresher, better acclimatised, and have had proper preparation time. Nigeria arrive tired, rushed, and without their talisman.
Still, the Super Eagles are condemned to win or see their World Cup hopes go up in flames.
South Africa are already six points clear in the group, and anything short of a result in Bloemfontein could make qualification an uphill climb for Chelle’s side.
The Super Eagles delegation received a warm welcome in South Africa from Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Republic, His Excellency Tope Ajayi and several other top government officials. But no amount of fanfare can hide the reality of the three-time African champions: one training session, no Osimhen, and a mountain to climb in Bloemfontein.
