Galatasaray has faced significant difficulties in matches where Super Eagles star forward Victor Osimhen was not present this season.
Beyond struggles in scoring, the team has shown weaknesses in their attacking press. After losing to Frankfurt and US Gilloise without Osimhen, they missed out on their €4.2 million Champions League bonus. Fenerbahçe secured the Super Cup while the Nigerian star was at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Missing matches against Gaziantep FK, Konyaspor, Trabzonspor, and Kocaelispor in the league cost Gala 10 points loss.
In his absence, the team often froze, especially when trailing! Osimhen’s motivating influence was evident when he played, but without him, comebacks became much harder.
The Galatasaray striker suffered a fractured right forearm during a UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool in March 2026, following a challenge with Ibrahima Konaté. After undergoing successful surgery, he is engaging in non-contact training and after missing matches in March and early April, he is tracking to play against Fenerbahçe on April 26, with an earlier potential return against Gençlerbirliği on April 22.
Osimhen, who has been crucial for Galatasaray this season with 19 goals and 7 assists, was not included in Nigeria’s squad for March friendlies to focus on recovery.
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