Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has revealed that his marquee centre-forward Victor Osimhen was managing a hamstring injury throughout the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Despite the Galatasaray striker’s physical struggles during the tournament in Morocco, he emerged as one of the standout performers, scoring four goals and providing two assists in six appearances.

His impressive displays earned him a place in the Confederation of African Football’s Team of the Tournament.

Of the six matches Osimhen featured in at Afcon 2025, he completed the full 90 minutes in two, both against North African opposition, Tunisia and Algeria.

Explaining why Nigeria were not at their best in the semifinal clash with hosts Morocco, Chelle cited the demanding travel schedule and noted that Osimhen continued to feature despite carrying an injury, which was carefully managed by the Super Eagles' medical team.

"After the match against Algeria, which we played in Marrakesh, we went back to Fez, and from Fez we went to Rabat, and we played again in 48 hours. So we didn't have a cryotherapy chamber with us to recover," Eric Chelle said on RMC Sport's After Foot.

"It's true that the recovery was very difficult. We went from Marrakesh to Rabat by plane, but at this level, it's really the small details. After two training sessions, a little recovery after the match, and a training session before the next match, they were tired."

Nigeria's key attacking trio Alex Iwobi, Osimhen and Ademola Lookman struggled to replicate their earlier form in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semifinal against the Atlas Lions.

"If you watch the match, Akor is very tired; he lost a lot of balls. Victor is complicated because people need to know he played in the Africa Cup of Nations injured. 

"He had a small tear in his hamstring, so it was necessary to manage it."

Osimhen, who captained Nigeria against Uganda and Morocco, did not feature in the third-place playoff against Egypt, although he was named in the matchday squad.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel