By Omotayo Edubi
Napoli forward and Nigeria’s most valuable player, Victor Osimhen, will not feature against Portugal in this week’s friendly encounter.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), in a statement released on their official Twitter page, announced that Osimhen is injured and that Cremonese forward, Cyriel Dessers, has been called up as the 23-year-old’s replacement.
Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, had included Victor Osimhen in Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the international friendly with Portugal on Thursday, November 17.
Osimhen has been crucial to Napoli’s charge for a first Serie A title tilt in three decades, with the Nigerian forward scoring nine goals for the Neapolitans.
Meanwhile, Osimhen’s replacement, Cyriel Dessers has arrived in the Nigerian camp ahead of the Portugal clash.
Dessers arrived alongside Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, bringing the number of players at Jose Peseiro’s disposal to 22.
The friendly game will take place at the Estadio Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon on Thursday, November 17, just days before Portugal’s first World Cup match.