Osimhen, expected to join the Nigeria squad for the tournament soon, had been navigating a disciplinary tightrope in the Turkish Super Lig. Heading into Saturday’s match against Antalyaspor, he had already accumulated yellow cards in previous games against Beşiktaş, Kocaelispor, and Fenerbahçe.
His 85th-minute booking against Antalyaspor resulted in a one-match suspension. With Osimhen named in Nigeria’s 28-man AFCON squad, the ban will now be served during the international tournament, rendering him unavailable for the game against Kasımpaşa next weekend.
According to Turkish media outlet Gazete Gerçek, Osimhen could be referred to the Turkish Football Federation Disciplinary Committee (PFDK) for further investigation. Under Article 37 of the PFDK disciplinary code, which addresses cases of players allegedly “deliberately receiving a yellow card,” a guilty finding could see Osimhen handed a two-game suspension.
If Osimhen is sanctioned under Article 37, he could miss multiple Super Lig matches, including games against İstanbul Başakşehir, Kasımpaşa, Fethiyespor, Trabzonspor, and Gaziantep FK, should the Super Eagles advance deep into AFCON.
The situation has generated debate among fans and analysts, with some questioning the ethics of attempting to manipulate suspensions while others highlight the pressures on players balancing club commitments with national team duties.