The 27 year old had surgery after an MRI reportedly revealed a loose body in his left knee, and the Super Eagles will face Tanzania without their leading striker.
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Galatasaray have confirmed that Victor Osimhen has undergone successful surgery on his injured knee. The operation took place on Saturday, November 7, at the Maslak Acıbadem Hospital in Istanbul and was led by club doctor Yener İnce.
The Nigerian striker was hurt during Galatasaray’s 2-0 Champions League win over VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday, November 3. The club announced on Friday that medical examinations had shown a problem that needed surgical treatment, and reports say an MRI scan found a loose body in his left knee.
In its statement, Galatasaray said Osimhen would be monitored through daily assessments and that his treatment would continue under the supervision of the club’s medical team. The club wished him a speedy recovery but did not give a return date.
The news is a major blow to Nigeria. Osimhen is expected to miss the Super Eagles’ 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania, which the NFF has scheduled for Friday, November 13, in Uyo and Tuesday, November 17, in Dar es Salaam.
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A Blow For Chelle
Nigeria cannot afford to lose ground in this window. They have three points from two games after beating Madagascar 2-1 in Uyo and losing 3-0 away to Guinea-Bissau, who lead the group on six points.
Eric Chelle has yet to name his squad, so the coach now needs to decide who leads the attack. Several strikers arrive in form, including Tolu Arokodare, who scored twice and set up another in Ajax’s 6-1 win over Midtjylland, and Kelechi Iheanacho, who has 17 league goals for Turkish side Bursaspor.
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Galatasaray And The Road To Recovery
Osimhen’s club also faces a worrying wait. Galatasaray host Aston Villa in the Champions League on Tuesday, November 24, and the club has not said whether he could be back in time.
It is the second operation of the year for the 27-year-old. He fractured his right forearm in Galatasaray’s 4-0 Champions League defeat at Liverpool in March and had surgery on March 23 at the same hospital.
His form before the injury had been impressive, with goals in each of his last three appearances before the Stuttgart game. Against Stuttgart he had seven attempts and eight touches in the box, but he could not score.
For now, the focus is on a safe recovery rather than a quick return. New Bet9ja users can check Bet9ja’s YOHAIG Super Eagles offer as they follow the latest news.
📌 Did You Know?
- Osimhen is 27 years old.
- His knee surgery was performed at the same Istanbul hospital where he had surgery on a fractured forearm in March 2026.
- He fractured his right forearm in Galatasaray’s 4-0 Champions League defeat at Liverpool in March.
- Galatasaray beat Stuttgart 2-0 on November 3, with Aleksey Batrakov scoring twice.
- Nigeria’s first two qualifiers in this campaign were a 2-1 win over Madagascar and a 3-0 defeat at Guinea-Bissau.
