By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Galatasaray are reportedly considering including Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen in their squad for the high-profile derby against Fenerbahçe, despite the forward’s recent injury setback.
Osimhen was forced off at halftime during the Super Eagles’ decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff loss to DR Congo and has since missed Galatasaray’s training sessions on Wednesday and Thursday.
An MRI conducted at the club’s partner hospital, Acıbadem, revealed a moderate strain with bleeding in the posterior muscle of Osimhen’s left leg. Normally, such an injury would rule him out of the derby.
Turkish journalist Ali Naci Küçük, quoting Habersarikirmizi, reported that Osimhen is determined to play.
“As soon as Victor Osimhen landed in Istanbul, he said, ‘I want to play in the derby!’ After the MRI, he said, ‘Do whatever you can, I’m here to make Galatasaray even more successful. I want to be on the pitch in the most important match!’”
The club’s technical staff and medical board are reportedly taking a calculated risk, aiming to include him in the extended squad. Intensive treatment has begun, with the hope that Osimhen can at least be on the bench and potentially contribute during the game.
He is expected to miss upcoming fixtures against Gençlerbirliği and USG, but his availability for the Fenerbahçe clash remains a top priority for both the player and the club.
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.
