By Wale Mustapha
Nigerian international Victor Osimhen is poised to make his return to action for Galatasaray in their UEFA Champions League opener against Eintracht Frankfurt, after recovering from a shin injury.
The 26-year-old striker sustained a bruised shin while representing Nigeria in their 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Rwanda in Uyo, and has since been sidelined, missing several matches for the Turkish champions.
However, Turkish outlet Harbeler reports that the Super Eagles star is ready to make a comeback and has expressed his determination to feature in the continental clash.
Osimhen has reportedly informed head coach Okan Buruk of his willingness to play, even if it requires the use of an injection to manage the pain.
The forward’s return would be a major boost for Galatasaray as they kick off their Champions League campaign, with Osimhen regarded as the club’s attacking talisman since his high-profile move from Napoli earlier this year.
Interestingly, Osimhen has a strong record against German opposition. He has scored three goals in three previous appearances against Eintracht Frankfurt, a statistic that could give Galatasaray added confidence heading into the fixture.
The match marks a significant moment for the Turkish giants, who are eager to make a strong start in a tough group.
For Osimhen, it also presents an opportunity to reaffirm his status as one of Europe’s most feared strikers on the Champions League stage.
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.
