Super Eagles’ boss Eric Chelle decided not to call up Victor Osimhen for the upcoming friendly away against Russia on Friday.The reason is that the 26-year-old striker is about to depart from Napoli and look since he’s not part of Antonio Conte’s plans. Osimhen led Galatasaray to the Turkish Super Lig title during his season-long spell, which ended after the campaign.Ronaldo & Osimhen together? Saudis want to make it happenNow, it’s time for Osimhen to look for another club, and that’s the only reason he has been left out of the Super Eagles squad.”Victor is, for me, the best striker in the world,” Chelle told BBC Sport Africa.”For him, it is difficult to come for this game because he played a season with a lot of pressure. The reality is there is a transfer window. During this time, a player like him is not focused at 100%. I need to protect him physically and mentally because maybe he will go [and get a transfer move]. Maybe a club like Manchester United. Or maybe Chelsea, Barcelona or Real Madrid. So he needs to be focused on that.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8964140####EDITORS_CHOICE##Nigeria picked up just three points from their first four matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, as Osimhen was absent with injury. However, the striker netted three goals when he returned in March as the Super Eagles secured a win over Rwanda and a draw against Zimbabwe.”He wants to win everything during training. It’s crazy,” Chelle added.”When the training session finishes, he wants to stay on the pitch and score again and again. I think maybe even when he sleeps, he wants to score too.”The games at home against Rwanda and away in South Africa will be crucial as Nigeria looks to bridge the six-point gap to Group C leaders Bafana Bafana.##NAJAVA_MECA_8964097##
