Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has come under intense criticism in Turkey following allegations that he deliberately engineered a suspension ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Osimhen, who is expected to link up with the Nigerian national team for the continental tournament, found himself at the centre of controversy after receiving a late yellow card in his club’s Turkish Super Lig encounter against Antalyaspor on Saturday.
Going into the match, the Nigerian forward was already walking a disciplinary tightrope, having previously been booked in games against Beşiktaş, Kocaelispor and Fenerbahçe.
The 85th-minute yellow card against Antalyaspor proved costly, as it pushed Osimhen over the booking threshold, earning him an automatic one-match suspension.
As a result, the Super Eagles attacker will miss his club’s next league fixture against Kasımpaşa.
However, with Osimhen named in Nigeria’s 28-man squad for the 2025 AFCON, the suspension will now be served during the international break, allowing him to return without a domestic ban hanging over him.
Turkish outlet, Gazete Gerçek, reported that the matter may not end with a one-match suspension, as Osimhen could still be referred to the Turkish Football Federation’s Professional Football Disciplinary Committee.
According to the report, the disciplinary body may investigate the incident under Article 37 of the Turkish Football Federation’s disciplinary code, which addresses cases of players allegedly “deliberately receiving a yellow card.”
If the committee finds the Super Eagles striker guilty of intentionally forcing the booking, the rules stipulate that he could face a stiffer punishment.
Article 37 of the PFDK provides for a two-match ban if a player is found to have deliberately sought a caution for tactical reasons.
Should Osimhen be sanctioned further, he risks missing several crucial fixtures for his club.
The matches potentially affected include clashes against İstanbul Başakşehir, Kasımpaşa, Fethiyespor, Trabzonspor and Gaziantep FK, depending on how far Nigeria progresses at the AFCON.
For now, Osimhen remains focused on joining the Super Eagles camp, while his club and supporters await the outcome of the possible disciplinary review in Turkey.
