Galatasaray will kick off their Champions League challenge this season without €75m Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen after the Nigerian forward was ruled out due an injury.

Turkish champions Galatasaray will begin their Champions League campaign without their €75 million Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, who is expected to miss the start of the UCL season due to an injury.

Osimhen, 26, suffered the injury during Nigeria’s 1-0 win against Rwanda and subsequently missed Galatasaray’s recent domestic matches, including their weekend victory over Eyupspor.

He also missed Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa as he continued his recovery. But despite hopes for a late fitness test ahead of the UEFA Champions League opener against Eintracht Frankfurt, the Nigerian forward remains sidelined.

Pulse Sports earlier reported Galatasaray’s uncertainty over Osimhen’s fitness, and recent checks on their social acounts showed the striker was absent from the club’s official training session photos ahead of the big match.

On their website, Galatasaray detailed the team’s preparations at Kemerburgaz Metin Oktay Facilities, including warm-ups, passing drills, and defense-offense exercises, but Osimhen’s name and image were missing.

Turkish news outlet Harbeler noted that while Osimhen is not fully recovered, he is prepared to make personal sacrifices to feature in the crucial Champions League fixture. However, Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk must plan without his key goalscorer for now.

Last season, Osimhen was decisive to Galatasaray’s success, netting an impressive 37 goals in 41 appearances.

His absence represents a significant blow to the Super Lig champions, who rely heavily on his scoring ability in high-stakes matches.

Buruk and Galatasaray will be hoping Osimhen can return soon as they seek to start their UEFA Champions League campaign with a positive result against Eintracht Frankfurt. For now, they must face Europe’s elite without their star striker.