Victor Osimhen is on course to be available for Galatasaray’s Istanbul derby with Fenerbahçe, club president Dursun Özbek has said, easing immediate concerns for Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Osimhen suffered a hamstring problem during Nigeria’s penalty-shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoffs. Tests in Istanbul identified a “moderate strain with intramuscular bleeding” at the back of his left thigh, an injury that kept him out of subsequent fixtures against Gençlerbirliği and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Speaking to local media ahead of the derby, Özbek said: “Our players returning from injury will be in the squad for the Fenerbahçe derby. Osimhen should be in the squad on Monday, and he will probably be because that’s the goal in our discussions so far.” The president added that other recovering players were also expected to be ready for selection.
The timing of Osimhen’s recovery matters beyond the Turkish title race. FIFA regulations require players called up for the Africa Cup of Nations to begin travelling no later than the Monday morning of the week preceding the tournament’s start, which places the Super Eagles’ reporting deadline on 8 December for the Morocco tournament beginning later this month. Clubs face pressure to release internationals by that date.
Galatasaray, though, have a crucial Champions League fixture against Monaco on 9 December and are expected to seek at least a one-day delay to Osimhen’s release so he can complete club duties if possible.
