Galatasaray Receive Major Boost As Victor Osimhen Nears Injury Comeback

Victor Osimhen is expected to make his return for Galatasaray after the first international break of the 2026-2027 season, with reports from Turkey suggesting the Nigerian striker could feature against Kasımpaşa on October 9.

The former African Footballer of the Year has been recovering from a muscle strain sustained during Galatasaray’s September 4 encounter with Başakşehir. The injury has kept him out of matches against Sporting Lisbon, Kocaelispor and Trabzonspor, with his recovery taking longer than initially anticipated.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Osimhen was initially named in Nigeria’s squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. However, he withdrew from the squad two days later after medical assessments confirmed that he would not be fit enough to participate in the fixtures.

Galatasaray and the Super Eagles technical crew had initially hoped Osimhen would recover in time for the Trabzonspor game and subsequently be available for the international window. However, team media officer Promise Efoghe explained that the striker’s recovery from the muscle problem had progressed more slowly than expected.

Osimhen’s withdrawal from the national team has paved the way for Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi to return to the Super Eagles setup for the first time in two years. Nigeria confirmed Awoniyi’s inclusion after Osimhen was ruled out of the upcoming qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Tolu Arokodare, Akor Adams and Rafiu Durosinmi remain among the attacking options available to Nigeria as the team prepares for its opening AFCON 2027 qualifying matches.

Before sustaining the injury, Osimhen had made an impressive start to the new campaign with Galatasaray, scoring six goals and providing two assists in his first four appearances. His anticipated return would therefore provide a significant boost to the Turkish champions as they continue their campaign.