Osimhen back in action for Galatasaray after a month out

The Super Eagles striker set up a goal on his return, then faced Barcelona in the Champions League.

By SitesNG Sports Desk · 13 October 2026 · 2 min read

Victor Osimhen in a Galatasaray shirt holding a phone on the pitch — Victor Osimhen in Galatasaray colours in 2025 (file photo). Photo: Ottomanor, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Victor Osimhen is fit again. The Nigeria striker returned for Galatasaray on Friday 9 October 2026, coming off the bench in the 77th minute against Kasimpasa and setting up Mario Lemina's stoppage-time goal in a 3-1 win.

The injury had been serious. Galatasaray's doctor, Yener Ince, said it was a grade 2 tear of a thigh muscle with a large blood clot that had to be drained. It kept Osimhen out of Nigeria's AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in September.

A tough night against Barcelona

Four days later Osimhen played in the Champions League at RAMS Park, but Barcelona spoiled the party. Galatasaray led through Batrakov before the Spanish champions hit back to win 4-1, with goals from Cancelo, Fermin Lopez, Gordon and Adeyemi.

Osimhen did set up a goal for Baris Alper Yilmaz that was ruled out, a moment Nigerian outlet Legit.ng saw as a turning point in the match.

“We were up against a very good team.”
Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk, after the match (via Legit.ng)

Nigeria's next AFCON qualifiers are in November, and a fit Osimhen will be the biggest boost Eric Chelle could ask for. Follow him on our Nigerians in Europe tracker.

Reporting by the SitesNG Sports Desk, based on reports from Legit.ng, Afrik-Foot, Leadership (via AllAfrica), El Imparcial. Published 13 October 2026 in the African Sports News weekly edition of 15 October 2026.