Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen will undergo surgery on his left knee, Galatasaray confirmed on Friday, in a blow that leaves Nigeria sweating over the fitness of their most important attacker just a week before two crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania.
The Turkish champions said the 27-year-old picked up the problem during this week’s Champions League league-phase win over VfB Stuttgart in Istanbul, and that further tests revealed an issue that needs an operation. No recovery timeline has been given.
What Galatasaray said
In a statement published on November 6, the club said Osimhen had suffered a strain in his left knee and that MRI scans had detected a loose body in the joint. According to the statement, as reported by Pulse Nigeria and TVC News, the forward will have arthroscopic surgery at Maslak Acıbadem Hospital, with the procedure to be carried out by club doctor Yener İnce.
Blueprint reported that the operation is scheduled for Saturday, November 7. Galatasaray also confirmed that Osimhen has been taken out of the squad for Saturday’s Süper Lig match against Amed S.F.
Arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery to remove a loose body is generally less serious than reconstructive knee surgery, but the length of any lay-off depends on what surgeons find once they operate. All three outlets that reported the statement noted that the club has not said how long the striker will be out.
Injury came in Stuttgart win
Osimhen played the full 90 minutes of Galatasaray’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Stuttgart at RAMS Park, a match in which he could not find the net as Aleksey Batrakov struck twice in quick succession. It was not clear from the club’s statement at what point of the game the knee problem began.
The setback comes at a frustrating time for the striker, who has been central to Galatasaray’s domestic and European campaigns. He helped the Istanbul club to back-to-back Turkish league titles and remains their main source of goals this season.
Super Eagles sweat ahead of Tanzania double-header
The timing is a major worry for Nigeria. The Super Eagles face Tanzania on November 13 and November 17 in AFCON 2027 qualifying, two matches that coach Eric Chelle’s side are widely seen as needing to win to stay firmly in the race for a place at the tournament.
TVC News reported that Osimhen is set to miss both games. The Nigeria Football Federation had not issued a statement on his availability by Friday evening, and there was no public comment from Chelle. If Osimhen is ruled out, the coach will have to lean on other forwards in a squad that is still rebuilding after the disappointment of missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria’s World Cup hopes ended in the African play-off final in Rabat, where they drew 1-1 with DR Congo after extra time and lost 4-3 on penalties. Earlier in 2026, Chelle had guided the team to a third-place finish at AFCON 2025 in Morocco, where Osimhen was Nigeria’s top scorer.
A difficult week after CAF awards snub
The injury news caps a tough few days for Osimhen and Nigerian football. On Wednesday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) released its 10-man shortlist for the 2026 Men’s Player of the Year award without a single Nigerian name.
Osimhen, the 2023 winner, and Ademola Lookman, who won the award in 2024, were both left out, as was Chelle from the Coach of the Year list. The shortlist is led by defending champion Achraf Hakimi of Morocco and includes Sadio Mané, Brahim Díaz, Ismaila Sarr, Amad Diallo, Yoane Wissa and Antoine Semenyo. Several Nigerian outlets, including Pulse and Blueprint, described the omissions as a snub given Osimhen’s scoring record for club and country.
The CAF Awards ceremony will be held in Lagos on December 7, 2026. Nigeria’s women did better, with the Super Falcons and several players named on the women’s shortlists.
What happens next
All eyes will now be on the outcome of Saturday’s surgery and on any update from Galatasaray’s medical team on a return date. The NFF and Chelle are expected to clarify Osimhen’s status for the Tanzania games in the coming days, as the Super Eagles prepare to assemble for the November international window.
For Galatasaray, the immediate task is to cope without their talisman against Amed S.F. and in the busy weeks before the winter break.
Sources: Galatasaray statement as reported by Pulse Nigeria, TVC News and Blueprint; CAF shortlist reporting by Pulse Nigeria, Blueprint, Nigeria Info and Afrik-Foot.
