Victor Osimhen’s family emergency: What Turkish insider Ali Küçük has revealed

Victor Osimhen faced a deeply challenging week away from football after a number of family emergencies threatened to distract the Super Eagles star.

Over the last few days, Osimhen’s pregnant partner, Stefanie Kim Ladewig, was involved in a car accident and their young daughter, Hailey True, underwent surgery for a broken foot.

Despite the family troubles, the Galatasaray striker stayed with his teammates and featured in the Turkish champions’ league match against Gençlerbirliği on October 17. Osimhen’s commitment to the club’s cause has earned him praise from Turkish sports journalist Ali Naci Küçük.

Ladewig was involved in a three-vehicle collision in Istanbul on Tuesday, October 13, while driving through the Mithatpasa neighbourhood of Kemerburgaz.

Her SUV reportedly struck the rear of a light commercial vehicle while negotiating a bend. The impact caused her to lose control and collide with another SUV travelling in the opposite direction.

Although all three vehicles sustained significant damage, no injuries were reported at the scene.

Ladewig, who is eight months pregnant, was taken to a private hospital in the Maslak area as a precaution. Medical examinations confirmed that both she and her unborn baby were in good condition, and she was subsequently discharged.

The accident was compounded by another worrying development involving the couple’s daughter, who broke her foot and required surgery.

Ali Küçük explains why Victor Osimhen’s appearance was a sacrifice

According to Küçük, the family emergencies made Osimhen’s decision to play against Gençlerbirliği particularly significant.

“I had said about Osimhen in the Gençlerbirliği match, ‘Even going there was a sacrifice.’ Osimhen’s wife had been in an accident and his daughter was injured,” the Turkish journalist said via Yellow & Red Report.

“His daughter even underwent surgery. Despite this, Osimhen did not leave the team alone in the Gençlerbirliği match.”

The Nigerian international played the full 90 minutes in Galatasaray’s 1-0 victory, registering seven shots, including two on target, and making 10 touches inside the opposition’s penalty area.

However, he could not find the net, with the match decided by a late own goal from goalkeeper İrfan Can Eğribayat. Osimhen also received a yellow card.

Osimhen responds with historic night against Lille

Four days later, Osimhen delivered a memorable performance against former club Lille in the UEFA Champions League.

The striker scored Galatasaray’s fourth goal in their 4-2 comeback victory in France on October 21, finishing a swift counter-attack in the 61st minute.

🎯 Victor Osimhen for Galatasaray — against Lille, with whom he played ball (2019-2020) #LOSCvGS • #UCL pic.twitter.com/u6jkhhlPDL

— Magyezi 🫆 (@gyezi_) October 21, 2026

The strike took his European goal tally for Galatasaray to 14, extending his record as the club’s highest-scoring foreign player in European cup history.

Osimhen chose not to celebrate against the French side, where his Champions League career began. Lille supporters later gave him a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 85th minute, and he responded with applause.