Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is set to undergo knee surgery, ruling him out of Nigeria's upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania.

What happened

Galatasaray announced on Friday, 6 November 2026, that the 27-year-old needs arthroscopic surgery after medical checks found a loose body in his left knee. The problem was discovered after he played the full 90 minutes of the Turkish club's 2-0 Champions League win over VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday. The club said its doctor, Yener İnce, would carry out the operation at Maslak Acıbadem Hospital in Istanbul on Saturday, 7 November.

How long he could be out

Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses small cuts and a camera to treat problems inside a joint. According to reports, Osimhen is expected to be out for two to four weeks, which could mean a return in early to mid-December if there are no setbacks. Galatasaray have not given an official timeline and say they will assess his recovery in stages.

Blow for the Super Eagles

The injury is a major blow for Nigeria, who face Tanzania twice in AFCON qualifying, including the match in Uyo on 13 November. Osimhen is the Super Eagles' main striker and one of Africa's most prolific forwards and was African Player of the Year in 2023. He was recently left off the shortlist for this year's CAF Player of the Year award.

Squad named

On Saturday, Galatasaray said the operation had been successful and that Osimhen would be out for at least three weeks. Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle then named a 24-man squad for the two Tanzania matches without Osimhen. Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was also left out by the coach's choice, with Stanley Nwabali, Arthur Okonkwo and the recalled Francis Uzoho named in goal. Midfielder Frank Onyeka was dropped, while Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Tochukwu Nnadi and Yusuf Alhassan return. Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina and Calvin Bassey are among those included.

Background

Osimhen joined Galatasaray from Napoli and has been in strong form, with reports this week suggesting that a top Italian club is interested in signing him. His absence means the Super Eagles coaching staff will have to rely on other forwards for the Tanzania double-header.

Nigeria's under-17 women's team, the Flamingos, will face Japan in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday, 7 November 2026.

The match

The final is at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, with kick-off set for 7.30pm Nigerian time. It will be the first time the two countries have met at this tournament. Flamingos captain Harmony Chidi said the players are determined to bring Nigeria its first world title at this level and make the country proud.

Road to the final

The Flamingos became the first African team ever to reach the final of the competition after beating Brazil 3-1 in the semi-final on Wednesday. After a goalless first half, Queen Joseph opened the scoring in the 56th minute, and Awawu Bashiru scored twice, in the 71st and 80th minutes, before Brazil pulled one back late on. Nigeria's previous best was third place in 2022, when they beat Germany in the bronze medal match. Ghana also finished third in 2012.

Japan's record

Japan are one of the strongest teams in youth women's football. They won the tournament in 2014, beating Spain in the final, and were runners-up in 2010 and 2016. At under-20 level, Japan beat Nigeria 2-1 in the bronze medal match of the 2012 U-20 Women's World Cup and won 6-0 when the two met in the group stage in 2016.

Praise from CAF and FIFA

CAF president Patrice Motsepe congratulated the Flamingos, saying they had made Africa proud, and confirmed he would travel to Rabat to watch the final in person. FIFA also congratulated the team on the historic achievement.

What's at stake

Victory would give Nigeria its first FIFA world title in women's football at any level and make the Flamingos the first African side to win the competition.

What was meant to be a moment of political mobilisation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reportedly took an unexpected turn at the Item Okpi cultural festival in Aba, Abia State, when members of the crowd began chanting the name of Peter Obi.

"Obi! Obi! Obi!"

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, was addressing a large gathering at the cultural event when he turned to national politics and began appealing to the people to support President Tinubu.

The response from sections of the audience was not what he appeared to be hoping for. As Kalu spoke in support of the President, loud chants of "Obi! Obi! Obi!" reportedly rose from the crowd.

Even when the Deputy Speaker repeated the familiar declaration, "On your mandate we shall stand," the chants continued, creating an unusual scene in which the politician's message and the crowd's response seemed to be moving in opposite directions.

Why it matters

The moment has drawn attention because of Abia State's political significance and the continuing debate about the popularity of Nigeria's major political figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Peter Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party and is now the NDC presidential candidate, continues to command a strong following in sections of the electorate, particularly in the South-East.

For Kalu, an influential APC politician from Abia State, the incident highlights the challenge of promoting the ruling party's candidate in a region where political loyalties remain divided.

A cultural festival turned political

Chants from a crowd at a cultural gathering are not a scientific measure of how a state or region will vote. But public reactions like this can still offer a glimpse into the political conversations happening among ordinary Nigerians.

What makes this incident stand out is the setting. The gathering was mainly a cultural celebration, yet it became a scene of competing political expressions once the Deputy Speaker raised the subject of presidential support.

Over to you

Were the chants simply a spontaneous reaction from enthusiastic Obi supporters, or a sign of wider political sentiment in the area? One thing is clear: Ben Kalu was talking about Tinubu, but some voices in the crowd wanted to talk about Obi.

The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, says Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), ordered the return of billions of naira donated to a church project after learning that the money came from crime.

What he said

Speaking to RCCG workers early on Saturday, 7 November 2026, at a meeting held ahead of the church's annual Holy Ghost Congress, Olukoyede said Adeboye directed that the money be refunded within 24 hours of being told where it came from. He praised the pastor for acting quickly. According to reports, he did not name the donor, say which project the money was meant for, or give the exact amount.

Warning to churches

Olukoyede, who is himself an ordained pastor, said Adeboye had invited him to speak to the workers about financial accountability and keeping transparent records. He expressed concern about a growing number of cases involving church leaders in financial crimes and about allegations linked to contract awards for church projects.

Background

The RCCG is one of Nigeria's largest churches, and its Holy Ghost Congress draws huge crowds to the Redemption Camp on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway every December.