Nigeria traveled to Bouake in Ivory Coast on Monday without their star striker Victor Osimhen ahead of their African Cup of Nations semi-final match against South Africa on Wednesday.
A team statement just before departure on Monday night said the striker had an abdominal problem and would remain in Abidjan pending a medical discharge.
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According to the statement: “Victor Osimhen will not be joining us on this trip due to abdominal discomfort. Team doctors confirmed that he has been placed under close surveillance and that a member of the medical team is staying with him in Abidjan.
“If it is approved tomorrow [Tuesday] tomorrow, he will join the rest of the team before five in the afternoon.
It is unclear what the abdominal discomfort is or what may have caused it, although the striker looked fed up when he was taken off at the end of the quarter-final win over Angola.
Losing the reigning African Player of the Year would be a huge blow for Nigeria, whose attack has relied on high pressing and the striker's energetic movements. Osimhen has been involved in four of Nigeria's six goals so far in the tournament, including the only goal in the opening 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea.
If he cannot make it to the match on time, coach José Peseiro has options in Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City, Paul Onuachu of Trabzonspor and Terem Moffi of OGC Nice.
Onuachu has been Osimhen's only substitute so far in this tournament, while Iheanacho and Moffi still have no minutes.
