LAGOS SEPTEMBER 18TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Victor Osimhen will play no part in Galatasaray’s Champions League opener against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday after failing to recover from injury, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigerian striker had been pushing to force his way into Okan Buruk’s squad despite not being fully fit, but the Turkish champions confirmed on Wednesday that he has been left out of the 23-man travelling party to Germany.
Osimhen sustained a shin injury during Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Rwanda in Uyo during last week’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
He was forced off in the first half and replaced by Cyriel Dessers before returning to Turkey for treatment.
The 26-year-old subsequently missed Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa and Galatasaray’s 2-0 weekend victory over Eyüpspor.
Hopes of an early comeback were raised when Turkish outlet Harbeler reported that the forward was willing to make personal sacrifices to feature in Frankfurt.
However, Galatasaray’s final training session on Wednesday morning and the official squad announcement later in the day confirmed his absence, dealing a blow to the club’s hopes of starting their Champions League campaign strongly.
Osimhen, who scored 37 goals in 41 appearances last season while on loan before completing a high-profile summer move, had opened the new campaign in fine form with goals in his first two starts.
He has also netted 19 times in 32 career UEFA competition matches, underlining his importance to Galatasaray’s European ambitions.
The Turkish champions, who were eliminated from last season’s Europa League play-offs after a 6-3 aggregate defeat to AZ Alkmaar, face a daunting Champions League league-phase campaign.
Alongside Frankfurt, they have been drawn against Liverpool, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Ajax, Union SG, Monaco and Bodø/Glimt.
Osimhen’s absence in Germany is a setback for Buruk’s side, but the forward will be keen to return swiftly to spearhead their domestic and European challenges in the coming weeks.
Punch
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