Victor Osimhen is back in the squad for Galatasaray ahead of their league clash with Gençlerbirliği this weekend, handing the Istanbul giants a timely attacking boost.
The Nigerian striker has been sidelined with injury in recent weeks, a period during which Galatasaray struggled to find the back of the net consistently and dropped valuable points in the Turkish Super Lig title race. His absence was keenly felt, as the team’s attacking edge visibly dulled without their leading frontman.
Now back to fitness, Osimhen’s return comes at a critical stage of the season, with Galatasaray still competing for both the league title and domestic cup honors. His presence is expected to reinvigorate the squad as they push for silverware.
Head coach Okan Buruk is likely to ease the Nigerian forward back into action, with plans to introduce him in the second half against Gençlerbirliği. The approach is aimed at rebuilding his match sharpness while minimizing the risk of re-injury.
All eyes will be on Osimhen’s performance as Galatasaray prepares for a high-stakes derby against Fenerbahçe next week — a fixture that could prove decisive in the title race.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
