Victor Osimhen misses another Galatasaray training session: 4 things we now know

Victor Osimhen’s return to action has suffered another setback after the Galatasaray striker trained away from the main group on Thursday, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Nigeria international worked individually in the gym with Mario Lemina instead of joining Okan Buruk’s squad. Turkish outlet Aslan Report says the pair now face a low chance of travelling to Trabzonspor on Saturday.

Osimhen has not played since September 4, when he scored in Galatasaray’s 3-2 win away to Istanbul Basaksehir before leaving the match after 33 minutes. Galatasaray later confirmed a right-adductor injury with bleeding in the affected muscle group.

The latest development also comes as Nigeria prepare for their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Osimhen has received a formal Super Eagles invitation for the matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, although his fitness will determine whether he can actually join Eric Chelle’s squad.

Victor Osimhen: Everything we know about his injury

Osimhen is still training separately

Thursday’s session did not bring the return to full team training that Galatasaray would have wanted.

Instead, Osimhen completed individual gym work alongside Lemina. Both players are recovering from the same type of right-adductor problem, and the latest report puts their chances of travelling to Trabzon at a low level.

That is a blow to Galatasaray plans ahead of the club’s trip to face Paul Onuachu and Mohamed Salah-inspired Trabzonspor this Saturday.

The club had previously considered Osimhen unlikely to feature even if he technically recovered in time. Galatasaray have preferred to avoid rushing him back and risking another injury.

The injury happened after Osimhen scored at Basaksehir

Osimhen’s last appearance lasted only 33 minutes. He put Galatasaray ahead in the 16th minute at Basaksehir, helping the visitors eventually win 3-2. But the striker later signalled to the bench that he could not continue and was replaced by Barış Alper Yılmaz.

Medical examinations then found a moderate-to-advanced strain, with bleeding, in his right adductor muscle group. Galatasaray said treatment began immediately.

Osimhen has missed Sporting CP and Kocaelispor games

The injury ruled Victor Osimhen out of Galatasaray’s Champions League trip to Sporting CP on September 10. Galatasaray lost 3-1 in Lisbon, with Osimhen unable to lead the attack.

Osimhen was also unavailable when Galatasaray hosted Kocaelispor three days later in a Super Lig clash.

The Turkish champions won 1-0 at the Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex, extending their league winning run. The result came without their first-choice striker, who was still recovering from the groin problem.

That means Osimhen has already missed a Champions League match and a Süper Lig fixture since suffering the injury.

The Trabzonspor game now looks like another likely absence.

Nigeria still want him for the AFCON qualifiers

Osimhen’s situation has now become important beyond Galatasaray.

Nigeria have formally invited him for their opening 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. The Super Eagles host Madagascar in Uyo on September 25 at 4 p.m. Nigerian time before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau four days later.

It is not yet clear whether Osimhen, Nigeria’s second all-time highest goalscorer after Rashidi Yekini, will honour the invitation.

His fitness will decide whether he joins Chelle’s squad, particularly after Galatasaray’s latest decision to keep him out of full training. Nigeria could therefore enter the qualifiers without their leading striker, who has scored 35 international goals.

The Super Eagles’ last victory without Osimhen came at the Unity Cup, where Eric Chelle’s men defeated Zimbabwe and Jamaica to win the invitational tournament.