Turkish football giants Galatasaray are facing significant challenges following the injury of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, with English pundit Troy Deeney warning that the team cannot perform at their best without the Super Eagles forward.
Osimhen's Injury Blow to Galatasaray
The 26-year-old striker sustained a hamstring injury during Nigeria's 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff final against DR Congo on November 16, ruling him out of action for three weeks. Osimhen did not return for the second half of the crucial match, and his absence proved costly as Nigeria missed out on qualifying for their second consecutive World Cup.
Galatasaray have already felt the impact of Osimhen's absence, with the team recording their second loss in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, November 25, falling 1-0 to Union St. Gilloise at RAMS Park. Despite this European setback, the Turkish club managed a 3-2 victory over Genclerbirligi in their most recent domestic match on November 22.
Deeney's Assessment of Osimhen's Importance
Former Watford captain Troy Deeney, speaking on CBS Sports, emphasized that Galatasaray cannot underplay Osimhen's significance to the team. The 37-year-old pundit ranked Osimhen among the top five strikers in world football currently, highlighting the lack of adequate replacement options available to the Turkish side.
"For Victor Osimhen, you cannot underplay how important he is to this team," Deeney stated. "The Turkish giants have got Lemina and other players who add such elements to the team. I talk about Victor Osimhen as top five strikers in world football currently and if you lose that you don't have somebody you can pull up from the bench or the youth team."
Deeney expressed surprise that top European clubs haven't pursued the Nigerian international more aggressively, noting that Osimhen remains too good for the Turkish League despite his current club success.
Champions League Implications
The timing of Osimhen's injury presents particular concern for Galatasaray's European campaign. The Turkish giants now sit in 11th position in their Champions League group after suffering their second defeat in the competition. This comes despite Osimhen's impressive individual form in Europe this season.
The Nigerian striker remains joint top scorer in the Champions League, level with Barnabás Varga of Ferencvaros TC and Mikael Ishak of Lech Poznan, each having netted six goals in the competition.
Deeney's analysis suggests that Galatasaray must prioritize Osimhen's recovery, warning that without their star striker, the team risks losing crucial matches in both domestic and European competitions. The pundit's comments underscore the growing concern among Galatasaray supporters about their team's over-reliance on the Nigerian international.
