Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League opener against Eintracht Frankfurt as he continues his recovery from a knee injury, Nigeriasoccernet.com writes.
The Turkish champions begin their 2025/26 League Stage campaign on Thursday at the Frankfurt Stadion, but head coach Okan Buruk will be without his record signing, whose rehabilitation has not progressed quickly enough despite earlier optimism about his availability.
Osimhen sustained the setback during Nigeria’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Rwanda, limping off after just a few minutes.
A medical update from Galatasaray later confirmed the diagnosis as a moderate sprain to his ankle ligaments, accompanied by stretching and bleeding.
In Osimhen’s absence, Buruk has named a 23-man traveling squad for the trip to Germany, which includes Ugurcan Cakir, Metehan Baltaci, Ismail Jakobs, Davinson Sanchez, Roland Sallai, Gabriel Sara, Mauro Icardi, Leroy Sane, Yunus Akgun, Batuhan Sen, Eren Elmali, Berkan Kutlu, Gunay Guvenc, Ilkay Gundogan, Ahmed Kutucu, Kaan Ayhan, Yusuf Demir, Lucas Torreira, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Baris Alper Yilmaz, Wilfried Singo, Arda Unyay, and Mario Lemina.
After the Frankfurt encounter, the focus will shift back to the Super Lig, where Galatasaray face Konyaspor, with hopes that Osimhen can return in time to strengthen their attack.
By Oluwadamilola Olaleye