Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has cleared the air on purported conflict between Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray and the national team following the player's withdrawal from the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The 27-year-old pulled out of Eric Chelle's initial 24-man squad for the qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau due to the groin injury he suffered during Galatasaray's league clash with Istanbul Basaksehir on September 4.

The former African Footballer of the Year was later replaced by Coventry City's Taiwo Awoniyi.

Speaking after Nigeria's 3-3 draw with Russia, Chelle explained why the Galatasaray talisman couldn't be involved for Nigeria in the recently concluded international break.

“About 10-15 days before the international break, Victor got injured,” Chelle said, per the Championat.

“We agreed that if he recovered and played for Galatasaray before the international break, the club would let him join us. But he couldn’t play in that game because he hadn’t yet recovered.

“We included him on the initial list because at that point we didn’t know whether he would have time to recover. There is no conflict between the player, the club, or the national team.”

WDN