Gala confirm October 9 Osimhen return date

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen. Photo: Super Eagles

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is set to return to action for Galatasaray in their Super Lig fixture against Kasimpasa on October 9, following weeks on the sidelines with a groin injury.

Turkish sports daily Fanatik reports that the return timeline has emerged from Galatasaray’s medical rehabilitation programme for the 27-year-old, who was initially named in Eric Chelle’s squad for the opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau before withdrawing.

The Nigeria Football Federation and Galatasaray had agreed that Osimhen should pull out of the squad to continue his recovery, with the Istanbul club’s medical team formally advising against international duty. Taiwo Awoniyi replaced the former Napoli striker in Chelle’s list.

Galatasaray have confirmed that Osimhen’s injury is a moderate to advanced strain with bleeding in the right groin area.

The former Lille striker has missed the club’s Champions League opener against Sporting Lisbon and Super Lig fixtures against Kocaelispor and Trabzonspor as a result, with two of those matches ending in defeat for Okan Buruk’s side.

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His absence left a gap in Galatasaray’s attack that Turkish football pundit Sinan Engin pointed to after the Sporting defeat.

The Kasimpasa game at the RAMS Park Stadium will be the first chance for Nigerian fans to see Osimhen back in Galatasaray colours since his injury, and will also serve as a warm-up for the club’s Champions League clash with Barcelona at the same venue four days later.

Before he was sidelined, Osimhen was in fine form, scoring six goals and providing two assists in Galatasaray’s opening four Super Lig matches of the season.

Head coach Okan Buruk’s decision to use Baris Alper Yilmaz through the middle in his absence has drawn criticism, while Rafael Leao has also struggled to fill the void, leaving Osimhen with little time to settle before the responsibility of leading Galatasaray’s attack returns to his shoulders.

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