Victor Osimhen will not attend this year’s CAF Awards in Rabat, Morocco, scheduled for Wednesday (today), as he has returned to Galatasaray for an MRI scan on the hamstring injury he sustained while on international duty with Nigeria.
Osimhen, the 2023 winner, has been shortlisted for the top prize for the second time in his career. He is competing against Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Morocco and PSG defender Achraf Hakimi.
The scan will reveal the severity of the injury he picked up on Sunday.
Osimhen was taken off at halftime during Nigeria’s defeat to DR Congo in the final of the 2026 World Cup African play-offs, with concerns that a hamstring problem had developed, prompting his substitution as a precaution.
The 27-year-old had earlier scored twice in extra time during the semi-final win over Gabon, bringing his international goal tally for Nigeria to 31.
Osimhen returns to the awards spotlight after claiming the honour two years ago, before his compatriot Ademola Lookman won it the following year.