Tag: Osimhen

Cameroonian striker Vincent Aboubakar has questioned the level of attention Galatasaray hitman, Victor Osimhen is receiving in Turkey, insisting the Super Eagles forward is being excessively glorified by the media.

Aboubakar, who was recently omitted from Cameroon’s squad for AFCON 2025, argued that several players in the Turkish Super Lig boast a more complete skill set than the Nigerian star.

 “Osimhen is overhyped here in Turkey,” the former  Indomitable Lions captain said. “Based on the football they play, Tammy Abraham is better because he understands the game more.”

He stressed that Galatasaray’s efficiency as a team makes it easier for strikers to thrive, suggesting Osimhen’s impressive goal return owes more to the system than his individual brilliance.

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 “The team needs to use the player well. If he can’t score, you need to improve the support around him. Since Galatasaray works well, Osimhen scores goals,” Aboubakar noted. “Put Abraham at Galatasaray and he would score a lot. He would play and perform better than Osimhen.”

The Cameroonian forward also compared the Nigerian with Galatasaray’s Argentine talisman, Mauro Icardi, arguing that the latter offers more all-round quality.

 “Mauro Icardi plays good football. Osimhen just has goals. If you take away the goals, what else can he offer?” he concluded.

Galatasaray President Dursun Ozbek has confirmed the availability of Victor Osimhen for tonight’s

 ‘Intercontinental Derby’ against bitter city rivals Fenerbache.

Club’s  insiders initially feared Osimhen might not be ready after he suffered a hamstring injury on national-team duty but in a boost for the Yellow & Red — and their supporters — Osimhen has returned to training and is now reportedly back in contention for selection.

But  Ozbek has now delivered the good news for Galatasaray faithful saying  in crisp post that  the Nigeria International is in the squad for the eagerly awaited  derby.

“Osimhen will be in the squad,” Ozbek said. “He was the target.”

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Incidentally, Osimhen had enthused  that he was ready to risk  everything  in order  to feature in the high profile  Turkish Lig 1 encounter.

“I know the importance of the Fenerbache Derby and what it means to the fans. I experienced this excitement last season,” he told Sabah newspaper. “Galatasaray signed me for such big matches.

 “If necessary, I will take risks and go out on the field and give my all.”

Gala have struggled recently in Osimhen’s absence, evidently in last week’s humiliating UEFA Champions League defeat to Union Saint Gilloise of Belgium.

It was in that context that former Watford FC captain Troy Deeney insisted Galatasaray urgently needed their marquee striker back, calling Osimhen one of the world’s top five strikers.

“Once you lose that kind of player … you don’t have somebody large like him you can pull up from the bench or the youth team,” Deeney said.

Osimhen has missed Galatasaray’s last two matches, including their Champions League defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise, due to injury.

The 26-year-old striker sustained the injury while playing for Nigeria during the last international break.

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Speaking to Ekol TV, Özbek said Osimhen has returned from injury, and he will be part of the squad that will play against Fenerbahçe.

“Osimhen will be in the squad. He was the target,” Özbek said.

“Our other players who have returned from injury will most likely be in the squad as well. We will field a very good team.”

Osimhen has been impressive for Galatasaray so far this season in all competitions.

Galatasaray star striker Victor Osimhen is expected to undergo a late fitness test ahead of Monday’s ‘Intercontinental Derby’ against bitter city rivals Fenerbache.

Turkish leading newspaper Sabah reported that Galatasaray are leaving nothing to chance to ensure the striker plays Monday, particularly after the disappointing home loss in the UEFA Champions League to Union St.Gilloise of Belgium.

Since his hamstring injury on Super Eagles duty against DR Congo, Osimhen has not trained with the rest of the team.

He himself has said he wishes to feature in the derby.

Monday’s showdown at Fenerbache is delicately poised with Galatasaray top of the Super Lig table on 32

Galatasaray star striker Victor Osimhen is expected to undergo a late fitness test ahead of Monday’s ‘Intercontinental Derby’ against bitter city rivals Fenerbache.

Turkish leading newspaper Sabah reported that Galatasaray are leaving nothing to chance to ensure the striker plays Monday, particularly after the disappointing home loss in the UEFA Champions League to Union St.Gilloise of Belgium.

Since his hamstring injury on Super Eagles duty against DR Congo, Osimhen has not trained with the rest of the team.

He himself has said he wishes to feature in the derby.

Monday’s showdown at Fenerbache is delicately poised with Galatasaray top of the Super Lig table on 32 points after 13 rounds of matches, while their biggest local rivals are second and a point behind.

Meanwhile, Galatasaray President Dursun Ozbek has announced a bonus of a million euros should Victor Osimhen and the rest of the team beat bitter Istanbul rivals Fenerbache on Monday in the local derby.

This massive win bonus is what Galatasaray have paid out for each of the team’s victories in the UEFA Champions League.

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After a flying start to the new season, the defending Turkish champions have lately struggled for form so much so that this week they fell at home to Belgian champions Union St.Gilloise in the Champions League.

2025 AFCON: Super Eagles to open Egypt camp on Dec. 10

SCORENigeria now understands that the Super Eagles will set up training camp in Egypt to prepare for the 2025 AFCON in neigbouring Morocco.

The Eagles will open camp on December 10 and are due to tackle 2026 World Cup qualifiers Egypt in a friendly on December 14 in Cairo as part of their build-up for the AFCON in Morocco.

The Egypt game will be a good dress rehearsal for the three-time champions as they face fellow North Africans Tunisia in Group C.

As announced by CAF, AFCON qualifiers can fly into Morocco five days to the opening game of the tournament on December 21.

By Joshua Osinowo 

Super Eagles striker and Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen has reportedly donated ₦5 million to assist with the medical treatment of popular online food vendor and Twitter personality, Aunty Esther, who is currently battling breast cancer.

According  to Soccernet , Osimhen made the donation after encountering a distressing video of the elderly woman, identified as Esther Omolola Mensah, crying in pain on a hospital bed while revealing the extent of the damage the illness had caused. The footage, widely circulated on social media, stirred widespread sympathy and urgent calls for support.

Aunty Esther, known for sourcing and delivering market items for her followers, had grown a loyal community online because of her warm personality and trustworthiness. However, her business ground to a halt in recent months as her health deteriorated. When her condition worsened, concerned social media users rallied around her, mobilising funds and ensuring she received immediate medical attention.

Doctors later confirmed that she required extensive and costly treatment, prompting her supporters to create a verified fundraising account. Thousands of Nigerians have since contributed to the fund.

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The biggest support came on Wednesday when Osimhen transferred ₦5 million to the account. The gesture sparked an emotional response from the beneficiary, who publicly expressed her gratitude.

 “Thank you uncle, Victor Osimhen. God bless u abundantly,” X user , Sir Dickson@Wizarab10,posted. .

Osimhen’s act of kindness comes during a difficult period in his own season. The striker missed Galatasaray’s Champions League clash against Union Saint-Gilloise on Tuesday due to injury, watching from the sidelines as his team fell 1–0 at RAMS Park.

His absence was noticeable, given his impressive tally of six goals in just three Champions League appearances, helping secure victories over Liverpool, Bodo/Glimt and Ajax.

The Nigerian forward is expected to return to full fitness ahead of Galatasaray’s highly anticipated derby against Fenerbahce on December 1^st . The Turkish champions currently sit atop the league table with 32 points, one ahead of their fierce rivals.

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly preparing another major push to sign Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, even though head coach Luis Enrique remains unconvinced about the Galatasaray forward.

The French giants previously explored signing Osimhen last year, but Enrique was not a strong advocate for the move at the time.

However, according to transfer specialist Ekrem Konur, PSG’s hierarchy have reignited their interest after concerns over the inconsistent form of Portuguese striker Gonçalo Ramos this season. With the club eager to reinforce their frontline and maintain their momentum as defending UEFA Champions League winners, Osimhen has again emerged as one of their priority targets.

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The French champions are expected to return with a substantial offer in the summer, with Galatasaray likely to demand a fee well above €100 million. PSG’s interest comes amid growing transfer noise around Osimhen, who has also attracted attention from Premier League sides including Chelsea and Arsenal.

Despite Enrique’s reservations over Osimhen’s playing style, PSG sporting directors see the Nigerian as a proven goalscorer, high-intensity presser and elite-level striker capable of transforming their attack. The summer transfer window is now shaping up to be another major tug-of-war for one of Africa’s most valuable footballers.

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen will miss Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League game on Tuesday due to a hamstring injury, but his fitness level will be re-evaluated on Friday, according to  Soccernet.ng .

​Osimhen was substituted off at halftime in Nigeria’s CAF World Cup qualifier against DR Congo last Sunday due to the injury and had to return immediately to Galatasaray to undergo treatment.

Upon his return, the injury was confirmed to be a minor hamstring tear, which was expected to side-line him for only a few days.

However, he was sighted in the stands showing support for his teammates. Osimhen was even sighted walking out from the stadium with compatriot Henry Onyekuru.

​After missing Galatasaray’s first UEFA Champions League game against Eintracht Frankfurt, Victor Osimhen had been available for their last three games in the competition, and he was exceptional.

He currently leads the Champions League goalscoring charts with six goals. However, he is now set to miss his second match in the competition, which is against Royale Union SG tonight.

With Osimhen sidelined, rivals like Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappé, who are currently one goal behind him, will be looking to overtake him in the goal scorers’ charts.

​According to NTV Spor, Victor Osimhen is expected to be re-evaluated on Friday to ascertain his fitness for a return to action.

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The primary goal is for the Super Eagles star to be fit and ready when Galatasaray plays their fierce rivals, Fenerbahce, on Monday.

This fixture is one of the biggest games in the Turkish football calendar, and Galatasaray will undoubtedly need all the firepower they can muster.

As Osimhen is arguably the best player at the club, they desperately need him to be as fit as possible.

Nevertheless, Galatasaray will still employ a cautious approach to managing the Super Eagles star’s injury to prevent any further complications.

UCL: Today’s Matches

Ajax vs. Benfica

Galatasaray vs. Saint-Gilloise

Bodø / Glimt vs.  Juventus

Dortmund vs.  Villarreal

Chelsea vs. Barcelona

Man. City vs. Leverkusen

Marseille vs. Newcastle

Napoli vs. Qarabağ kick

Slavia Prague vs. Athletic

Top European clubs PSG and Barcelona are interested in signing Victor Osimhen, his agent has confirmed.

George Gardi, who brokered the record-breaking transfer of Osimhen from Napoli to Galatasaray this past summer, told Sky Sports Germany that both clubs wish to sign the striker.

However, the agent also stated that Osimhen does not plan to quit the Turkish giants at present.

Similarly, Galatasaray President Dursan Ozbek has declared that much-prized striker Victor Osimhen could be sold at any time.

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“We said that if we bought Osimhen, Galatasaray will benefit from this deal. Given his age and performance, he’s a player who can be sold to another club at any time,” Ozbek told GT Spor and Haberturk TV.

“All these factors positively influenced our decision on Osimhen. Galatasaray’s financial situation also made this transfer possible.”

Galatasaray bought Osimhen this summer for a record-breaking 75 million euros in a deal that will run until June 2029.

They will therefore be encouraged by the latest declaration from the Galatasaray President on the player’s availability.