Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen is determined to return to action for the highly anticipated Super Lig match against fierce rivals Fenerbahçe on Monday, despite ongoing recovery from a hamstring injury.

 

Osimhen, who has missed Galatasaray’s last two games due to the injury sustained while on international duty with Nigeria, has been working hard to regain fitness. The 26-year-old picked up the knock during Nigeria’s 1-0 loss to DR Congo in the final of the 2026 World Cup African play-off. Following a scan, the Turkish club confirmed two weeks ago that Osimhen had begun treatment, though no official recovery timeline was provided.

 

Despite missing the league clash against Genclerbirligi and the UEFA Champions League defeat at home to USG, Osimhen is eager to return for the derby. According to Turkish journalist Mehmet Özcan, the striker has informed his teammates that he’s willing to take a risk and give his all on the pitch.

 

“I understand the importance of the Fenerbahçe derby and what it means to the fans,” Osimhen said, as quoted by Forza Cimbom. “I felt this excitement last season, and this club invested in me for moments like these. If necessary, I’ll take risks to be there and give 100 percent.”

 

While Osimhen was not included in the squad for Galatasaray’s last two games, it remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to feature in the highly anticipated derby.

 

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Currently, Galatasaray sits atop the Super Lig standings with 32 points, just one ahead of second-place Fenerbahçe. Last season, during his loan spell at the club, Osimhen faced Fenerbahçe three times. He scored a brace in their 2-1 victory in the Turkish Cup and also provided an assist in a 3-1 league win in September.

 

So far this season, Osimhen has netted three goals in nine league appearances and nine goals in 12 games across all competitions. After a standout loan spell, where he scored 37 goals in 41 games, he joined Galatasaray on a permanent deal from Napoli in the summer.

 

The derby is expected to be a highly charged affair, and reports from Turkey suggest that 16,000 security personnel will be deployed to ensure safety during the match.

 

SOURCE: Punch