Victor Osimhen is now in Nigeria to assess his options after sustaining a fractured right forearm during Galatasaray’s 4-0 Champions League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday, with a decision on surgery yet to be made as the Super Eagles striker waits for the swelling to subside.
Osimhen’s evening ended before it truly began. The Nigerian striker collided with Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate during an aerial duel in the 10th minute, with the Liverpool defender landing heavily on Osimhen’s arm. Despite being in visible discomfort and having his arm strapped up on the pitch, the 27-year-old showed remarkable resilience to complete the first half. However, checks at the interval confirmed the full extent of the damage, and he was not risked in the second half. Galatasaray later confirmed in an official statement that hospital examinations had revealed a fracture in his right forearm, with his arm subsequently placed in a cast.
According to Turkish sports publication Fanatik, Osimhen will wait for the swelling to reduce before making a final decision on whether to undergo surgery. Should he opt for the procedure, he is expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks, a timeline that would see him miss crucial Super Lig fixtures against Trabzonspor, Kocaelispor and Genclerbirligi and leave him in a race against time to recover for the blockbuster Istanbul derby against Fenerbahce on April 26.
Osimhen was not the only Galatasaray player to leave Anfield in distress. Winger Noa Lang, who had replaced Osimhen at half-time, suffered a considerably more alarming injury in the second half when he caught his thumb in the advertising hoarding behind Alisson’s goal, sustaining a partially severed thumb that required immediate medical attention from both Galatasaray and Liverpool doctors. He was carried off and transported to the hospital, where he was scheduled to undergo surgery in Liverpool.
Despite the severity of both injuries, the two players appeared to find some humour in their shared misfortune, with Lang posting an Instagram story showing Osimhen grinning on a video call while both displayed their bandaged limbs.
Osimhen’s trip to Nigeria during the international break had been arranged before the injury occurred and before the Super Eagles squad was announced for the friendly matches against Iran and Jordan in Antalya.
He was not included in that squad, and Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk had already acknowledged publicly that the striker’s early exit had been a decisive factor in Liverpool overturning their one-goal first-leg deficit so emphatically, with opposition manager Arne Slot echoing his sentiments.
The injury adds to what has been a physically demanding season for the Nigerian, who has missed seven matches across the Super Lig and Champions League due to fitness issues.
Despite those absences and his international commitments, Osimhen has been directly involved in 26 goals this season, contributing 19 goals and seven assists.
Credit: punchng.com
