Osimhen Scores Again as Injury Overshadows Galatasaray’s Dramatic Win
Victor Osimhen scored for Galatasaray again, but his latest goal was overshadowed by an injury scare during their thrilling 3-2 away victory over İstanbul Başakşehir in the fourth round of the Trendyol Süper Lig on Friday.
The Super Eagles striker opened the scoring in the 16th minute after creating space near the edge of the penalty area before firing a powerful shot that struck the crossbar and bounced down near the goal line.
After a VAR review, the goal was awarded to Galatasaray.
It was another impressive moment from Osimhen, who has continued his excellent start to the new campaign. The Nigerian has now scored in all four league matches he has played this season, taking his tally to six goals and two assists.
However, the mood changed in the 33rd minute when Osimhen was forced off after picking up an injury. He had shown signs of discomfort before eventually being replaced by Barış Alper Yılmaz.
The injury has raised concerns at Galatasaray, particularly with the club preparing for an important UEFA Champions League meeting with Sporting CP.
Turkish doctor Gürkan Kubilay reportedly suggested that the injury could involve ligaments inside the muscle and may require three to four months of recovery if confirmed. Such a timeline could keep Osimhen out until around January 2027.
However, the exact nature and seriousness of the injury have yet to be confirmed by Galatasaray’s medical team.
Galatasaray Complete Dramatic Comeback
Despite losing Osimhen early in the match, Galatasaray continued to fight for the victory.
Eldor Shomurodov equalised from the penalty spot in the 66th minute before Lucas Torreira restored Galatasaray’s lead five minutes later.
Davinson Sánchez then scored an own goal to make it 2-2, but Gabriel Sara produced a stunning free-kick in the 90th minute to give Galatasaray a dramatic 3-2 victory.
For Osimhen, however, the result was overshadowed by his injury.
The goal also extended his remarkable scoring run for Galatasaray. He has now been directly involved in at least one goal in each of his last 16 Süper Lig appearances for the club, scoring 16 goals and providing seven assists during that run.
Nigeria Also Await Medical Update
The injury could also be a major concern for Nigeria, with the Super Eagles expected to face Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying action on September 23.
If Osimhen is ruled out for an extended period, Nigeria would have to prepare for the qualifiers without one of their most important attacking players.
For now, Galatasaray and Nigeria will wait for further medical examinations to determine the extent of the injury and how long the 27-year-old striker could be sidelined.
