Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen delivered a classic striker's finish to open the scoring in Galatasaray's pulsating 3-2 derby victory over Istanbul Basaksehir on Friday, before a groin injury forced the Nigerian forward to leave the pitch in the first half, casting a shadow over the result and raising immediate concerns for both his club and country.
The Turkish champions travelled to the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium for the fourth round of the Trendyol Super Lig, and the match exploded into life early on. Galatasaray's high press forced an error from the Basaksehir defence, with Lucas Torreira intercepting a wayward pass in the 16th minute. The Uruguayan midfielder calmly fed Osimhen on the right edge of the penalty area, and the Nigerian international unleashed a powerful right-footed drive.
The ball crashed against the underside of the crossbar and bounced down, with referee Kadir Sağlam initially waving play on. However, after a brief consultation with the Video Assistant Referee, the goal was correctly awarded, confirming the ball had fully crossed the line. It was Osimhen's fifth goal of the season in all competitions, continuing his blistering start to the campaign.
The joy, however, was short-lived. Just 17 minutes after his goal, Osimhen was seen clutching his groin after making a sprint behind the Basaksehir defence. The striker signalled to the bench that he could not continue and was forced to leave the field in the 33rd minute, replaced by Barış Alper Yılmaz. The sight of the Nigerian star limping off sent alarm bells ringing through the Galatasaray camp and, perhaps more importantly, the Nigerian national team set-up.
The first half ended with Galatasaray holding a slender 1-0 lead. Basaksehir emerged with renewed purpose after the break, and their pressure paid off in the 66th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Eldor Shomurodov stepped up and coolly converted past goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır to level the scores at 1-1.
Galatasaray responded swiftly. In the 71st minute, a beautifully crafted move down the left flank involving substitutes Rafael Leão and Ismail Jakobs ended with Torreira firing a low shot into the far corner to restore the visitors' lead. The lead, however, was short-lived. Five minutes later, a corner kick into the Galatasaray box found Davinson Sánchez, who inadvertently headed the ball into his own net, making it 2-2.
The drama was far from over. In the 79th minute, Basaksehir's Umut Bozok was shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Leão, reducing the home side to ten men. Galatasaray pushed hard for a winner, and Sánchez thought he had redeemed himself with a goal in the 83rd minute, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Just as the match seemed destined for a draw, Galatasaray won a free-kick on the edge of the Basaksehir area in the first minute of stoppage time. Gabriel Sara stepped up and curled a magnificent left-footed strike into the far corner, securing a dramatic 3-2 victory and sending the Galatasaray fans into raptures.
The victory keeps Galatasaray's strong start to the season intact, moving them to ten points from four games. However, attention now turns to the extent of Osimhen's injury. The Nigerian forward has been in outstanding form for Galatasaray this season, and his early withdrawal has sparked fears of a spell on the sidelines.
The timing is particularly concerning for the Super Eagles. Nigeria are scheduled to resume their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign later this month, and Osimhen is the undisputed leader of the team's attack. A significant injury would be a major blow to head coach Eric Chelle's plans as Nigeria bids to secure a place at the tournament it will co-host.
Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk is expected to provide an update on Osimhen's condition, with both the club and the Nigerian national team anxiously awaiting the results of medical scans. For now, the Istanbul derby will be remembered for a thrilling contest, a brilliant free-kick winner, and the sight of one of Africa's brightest stars limping off the pitch.
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