Asamoah Gyan Accuses Victor Osimhen of Faking Injury in World Cup Qualifiers

Former Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan has stirred controversy after accusing Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen of deliberately faking an injury to skip international duty.

Osimhen, 26, was ruled out of Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein on Tuesday during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The striker had already returned to his club, Galatasaray, after picking up a reported ankle ligament injury in Nigeria’s earlier 1-0 win against Rwanda.

While Galatasaray confirmed the injury in an official statement, Gyan insists he isn’t convinced.

“I know these tricks. Someone said to Osimhen, ‘Look, we spent a lot of money on you. The Champions League is coming up. We don’t like you going to Africa, but go there and play a bit, then get injured and lie on the ground and act like it’s serious. The next day you’ll be in Türkiye,” Gyan was quoted as saying by habersarikirmizi.

Opinion: Between Club Loyalty and National Duty

This isn’t the first time African stars have been caught in the tension between club and country. Big European clubs often worry about their expensive players risking injuries in international games, especially during qualifiers on rougher pitches or in tight schedules. Gyan’s claims, whether true or not, highlight a bigger debate: should players prioritize their clubs that pay their wages, or their nations that shaped their careers?

For Osimhen, the timing of his injury could not have been worse. Nigeria’s qualification hopes are hanging by a thread, and every big name matters. Fans who worship his fighting spirit may now look at him with cautious eyes, wondering if he truly gave his all for the Super Eagles this time.

At the same time, it’s easy to forget Osimhen has battled serious injuries before and could simply be protecting his long-term career. Footballers walk a fine line: one torn ligament could end dreams.

In the end, maybe the real issue isn’t whether Osimhen faked it, but why African football still struggles with trust, medical transparency, and balancing the weight of both club and country.