Sports News Today, 6 November 2026 (Evening): Osimhen Needs Knee Surgery, Flamingos Final Eve, Jobe Bellingham Called Up
Last updated: 6 November 2026 · By Naijatipsland Editorial Team · Editorial policy
Evening roundup · Friday, 6 November 2026 · By Ade Adeniyi, Founder and Editor
Good evening. The big Nigerian football story this afternoon came from Istanbul, where Galatasaray confirmed that Victor Osimhen needs knee surgery a week before the Super Eagles face Tanzania. The Flamingos are now less than a day from their World Cup final, and England named a squad with a few surprises. Here is the latest.
Today at a glance
- Osimhen to have arthroscopic knee surgery on Saturday and is expected to miss the Tanzania double-header.
- Super Eagles squad still not published; Tanzania leave for Nigeria on Sunday.
- Flamingos v Japan: final set for Saturday evening in Rabat, with FIFA and CAF presidents expected.
- Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics: swimmer Kashope Obatoyinbo finishes sixth in a final; athletics next.
- England: Jobe Bellingham and Josh King called up, Cole Palmer left out.
- Premier League: Saka out for weeks, Saliba and Konsa ready; NPFL Matchday 12 begins.
1. Osimhen needs knee surgery
What happened
Galatasaray said on Friday that Victor Osimhen strained his left knee in their 2-0 Champions League win over VfB Stuttgart, and that an MRI scan found a loose body in the joint. Club doctor Yener İnce will carry out arthroscopic surgery at Maslak Acıbadem Hospital on Saturday, and Osimhen has been taken out of the squad to face Amed SF. The club did not give a recovery time.
Why it matters
Nigeria host Tanzania in Uyo on Friday 13 November and play the return in Dar es Salaam on 17 November. Osimhen has not played for Nigeria since the 2025 AFCON semi-final, so Eric Chelle was already planning without him, but losing him again cuts the options in attack. Samuel Chukwueze is also out after hip surgery.
Source: Pulse Nigeria; ACL Sports; Ground News (Sabah).
2. Super Eagles: squad wait goes on as Tanzania prepare to travel
What happened
As of Friday the Nigeria Football Federation had not published Chelle’s list for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers. Tanzania’s players report to camp on 8 November before flying to Nigeria. Coach Miguel Gamondi has named 24 players, 12 based at home and 12 abroad, including FC Dallas forward Bernard Kamungo. Many of Nigeria’s Europe-based players will only arrive after their weekend club games.
Why it matters
Nigeria have three points from two games in Group L and sit behind leaders Guinea-Bissau. Tanzania have already qualified as co-hosts, so only one other ticket is available from the group, which makes the Uyo game close to a must-win.
Source: The Sun; The Citizen (Tanzania); Punch.
3. Flamingos one day from the World Cup final
What happened
Nigeria’s U-17 women face Japan on Saturday 7 November at Pitch 3 of the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, with kick-off at 7.30pm Nigerian time (6.30pm UK). They reached the final by beating Brazil 3-1, with goals from Queen Joseph and two from Awawu Bashiru. Japan, who won the title in 2014 and lost the 2010 and 2016 finals, beat North Korea on penalties in their semi-final. NFF acting general secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme and NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade both backed the team on Friday, and FIFA’s Gianni Infantino and CAF’s Patrice Motsepe are expected at the game.
Why it matters
No African side has won the U-17 Women’s World Cup. A win would also make Nigeria the first African country to hold U-17 world titles for both boys and girls, adding to the Golden Eaglets’ record five.
Source: BusinessDay; Sports Village Square; Naija News.
4. Dakar 2026: Obatoyinbo makes history in the pool
What happened
Kashope Obatoyinbo, 16, became the first Nigerian athlete to reach a final at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. He won a swim-off against Christon Joseph of the Bahamas by one hundredth of a second, then finished sixth in the men’s 50m freestyle final in 23.43 seconds. Czech swimmer Zdenek Prochazka took gold in 22.54. Nigeria’s swimming programme ends on Friday, and five athletes will carry the team’s medal hopes in track and field this weekend.
Why it matters
Nigeria sent 19 athletes to the first Olympic event held in Africa. A final place for a young swimmer is a rare bright spot in a sport where Nigeria has little history.
Source: The Guardian; Punch; Independent.
5. England: Jobe Bellingham in, Palmer out
What happened
Thomas Tuchel named a 25-man England squad for Nations League games against Croatia at Wembley on 12 November and Spain in Madrid on 15 November. Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham joins his brother Jude for the first time, and Fulham’s 19-year-old Josh King also earns a first call-up. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer was left out. Tuchel said it was “not personal” but that Palmer had missed too many camps. Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford were also left out, and Bukayo Saka is injured.
Why it matters
England is home to many Nigerian-heritage players and fans in the diaspora, and Nigerian-heritage players such as Saka and Eberechi Eze are followed closely at home. Eze is in this squad; Saka misses out through injury.
Source: ESPN; The Telegraph; AP via Las Vegas Sun.
6. Weekend football: Premier League team news and NPFL Matchday 12
Premier League
Mikel Arteta said Saka will be out “for weeks” with a quadriceps injury, but Ezri Konsa is fine after coming off as a precaution in midweek, and William Saliba is in contention for his first game of the season against Hull on Saturday. Manchester United’s Carlos Baleba is out for several weeks with a hamstring problem. Matchweek 10 starts tonight with Everton v Coventry at 8pm UK time.
NPFL
Matchday 12 opens on Friday evening with Kun Khalifat FC against Kano Pillars, and most games follow on Sunday, including Enugu Rangers v Kwara United and Bendel Insurance v Niger Tornadoes. Rangers top the table after Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Bendel Insurance.
Why it matters
This is the last round of club games before the international break, and a final chance for Nigerian players to stay sharp and avoid injury before reporting to Uyo.
Source: The Independent; Daily Express; Naija News; Nigerian Matchday.
What to watch next
- Saturday 7 November: Flamingos v Japan, U-17 Women’s World Cup final, 7.30pm WAT.
- Saturday: Osimhen’s surgery and any recovery timeline from Galatasaray.
- The NFF’s Super Eagles list for Tanzania, expected soon.
- Dakar 2026 athletics this weekend, with five Nigerians entered.
- Friday 13 November: Nigeria v Tanzania, Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the Flamingos final against Japan?
Saturday 7 November at 7.30pm Nigerian time, which is 6.30pm in the UK, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat.
Will Osimhen play against Tanzania?
He is expected to miss both games. Galatasaray confirmed knee surgery for Saturday but did not give a recovery time.
When are Nigeria’s AFCON qualifiers against Tanzania?
Nigeria host Tanzania in Uyo on Friday 13 November, and the return leg is in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday 17 November.
This roundup summarises reporting by the outlets credited under each story, in our own words. Follow Naijatipsland Updates on WhatsApp for the next edition. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it under our editorial policy.
