“He Was Causing a Lot of Problems”: Siasia Explains Why Osimhen Was Taken Out Against Rwanda
- Victor Osimhen was injured in Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Rwanda, and has been ruled out of the South Africa clash
- Former Nigeria coach Samson Siasia says Rwanda deliberately targeted the striker to neutralise his threat
- Super Eagles will now rely on other attackers like Tolu Arokodare and Cyriel Dessers to deliver against Bafana Bafana
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Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Uyo came at a heavy price after Victor Osimhen was forced off in the first half after a series of challenges left him injured.
The Galatasaray forward has started the game as Nigeria’s main threat and even had a goal disallowed for offside in the 10th minute before he was taken out.
Source: Twitter
Coach Eric Chelle later admitted he was unsure if Osimhen would be fit for the next game against South Africa, a game the Super Eagles cannot afford to drop points in.
That hope has now been dashed, with the Galatasaray forward officially ruled out of Tuesday’s must-win clash in Bloemfontein.
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According to GOAL, Cyriel Dessers stepped in during the Rwanda game, but Osimhen’s absence leaves a huge gap in attack.
Siasia says Osimhen’s injury was deliberate
Former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia weighed in on the incident as he made it clear that Rwanda’s aggressive approach was no accident, Daily Post reports.
Source: Getty Images
According to the veteran manager, Osimhen’s impact on the game forced the Amavubi to target him physically.
“Of course, they knew exactly what they were doing. He was causing them a lot of problems so they had to take him out,” Siasia said.
“It was how the Rwandans wanted to play. So that was a very good game plan for them.”
The 1994 AFCON winner stressed that Osimhen’s movement and pace had unsettled the Rwandan defence from the start, leaving them little option but to adopt a rough strategy.
Super Eagles face South Africa next
Nigeria has travelled to South Africa for what is shaping up to be a defining World Cup qualifier.
Without star striker Osimhen, the Super Eagles will need other players to step up.
All eyes will be on Tolu Arokodare, Ademola Lookman, and Cyriel Dessers to provide the goals in Osimhen’s absence.
South Africa are in strong form after beating Lesotho 3-0, which has given them an edge in the group standings as they sit on top with 16 points, six points above Nigeria.
Tuesday’s game in Bloemfontein could be decisive in determining who takes control of the qualifying campaign. For Nigeria, the loss of their most dangerous forward is a significant setback.
Osimhen’s injury is not just a blow for Chelle’s plans, but also for fans who had been counting on him to make the difference.
In an exclusive chat with Legit.ng, Nigerian football expert, Simon McDonald, says Osimhen will be a big miss for Nigeria against South Africa.
"Going to South Africa without Osimhen is a huge setback. Matches of this magnitude often need one decisive moment, and Osimhen has built his reputation on delivering in those moments.
"Nigeria still has quality upfront, but taking away that spark could be the difference between securing three points and leaving Bloemfontein empty-handed.”
Doctors release statement on Osimhen’s injury
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Osimhen woke up feeling discomfort due to the injury, while the doctor advised that he should not travel with the Super Eagles for the all-important clash in South Africa.
Nigeria’s team doctor disclosed that the striker suffered a bruise on his chin during the highly entertaining fixture against Rwanda.
Source: Legit.ng
