Victor Osimhen will miss Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League game due to a hamstring injury; fitness to be re-evaluated on Friday

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen will miss Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League match against Royale Union SG on Tuesday due to a hamstring injury, sources confirmed on Monday.

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Osimhen’s fitness will be re-assessed on Friday to determine his readiness for upcoming fixtures.

The 26-year-old was substituted at halftime during Nigeria’s CAF World Cup qualifier against DR Congo last Sunday after sustaining a minor hamstring tear.

He immediately returned to Galatasaray for treatment, ruling him out of Tuesday’s encounter.

Despite his absence, Osimhen was spotted in the stands supporting his teammates and was seen leaving the stadium with fellow Nigerian Henry Onyekuru.

Galatasaray had already missed his services in the first Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt but benefitted from his contributions in the subsequent three games, where he displayed exceptional form.

Osimhen currently leads the Champions League goalscoring charts with six goals.

His absence opens opportunities for rivals Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappé, all one goal behind him, to challenge for the top spot.

Galatasaray is exercising caution in managing Osimhen’s injury to avoid aggravating the hamstring, with a key objective to ensure he is fit for the club’s high-profile fixture against fierce rivals Fenerbahce on Monday.

The match is regarded as one of the most significant in the Turkish football calendar, and Osimhen’s presence is vital to the team’s attacking firepower.

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Sources indicated that the club remains optimistic about Osimhen’s recovery and will monitor him closely over the coming days.