Victor Osimhen has decided to return home to Nigeria for a short break after suffering a serious arm injury during UEFA Champions League action against Liverpool, Soccernet.ng reports.
The striker picked up the injury in the first half of Galatasaray’s heavy defeat at Anfield. Osimhen was involved in a physical challenge with Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté midway through the half, and the impact left him in visible pain.
He received treatment on the pitch and tried to continue, showing his usual determination. However, the discomfort proved too much, and he was eventually taken off at half-time.
Galatasaray went on to lose 4-0 on the night, crashing out of the competition with a 4-1 aggregate defeat in the Round of 16. It was a difficult evening for the Turkish side, and Osimhen’s injury only made things worse.
After the match, medical checks confirmed that the Nigerian forward had suffered a fracture in his right forearm. His arm has now been placed in a cast, and the club is closely monitoring his recovery. At this stage, no final decision has been made on whether he will need surgery.
In the meantime, Osimhen has chosen to travel directly from England to Nigeria instead of returning to Turkey with his teammates. According to reports, he will spend a few days at home during the club’s short break.
Galatasaray do not play again until April 5, when they face Trabzonspor, giving Osimhen time to rest and recover properly before the next step in his treatment is decided.
Why Nigeria can cope without Victor Osimhen in upcoming friendlies
Despite being one of Nigeria’s most important players, Osimhen will not be involved in the national team’s upcoming matches.
The striker was left out of the Super Eagles squad by head coach Eric Chelle for the friendly games against Iran and Jordan.
With Osimhen unavailable, Chelle has turned to other attacking options. Paul Onuachu and Akor Adams are expected to lead the line, while Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze provide support from wide areas.
This group of players already has strong chemistry. They were all part of the Nigeria squad that impressed at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where the team finished with a bronze medal. Their understanding and experience together could help reduce the impact of Osimhen’s absence.
Nigeria will face Iran on March 27 before taking on Jordan on March 31. Both matches will now be played in Antalya after a venue change from Amman due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
While Osimhen’s absence is always significant, these friendlies provide an opportunity for other forwards to step up and prove themselves.
It is also a chance for Chelle to test different attacking combinations ahead of future competitive matches.
In that sense, Nigeria may not feel the full weight of missing their star striker. Instead, the focus will be on building depth, maintaining momentum, and ensuring the team remains competitive even without one of its biggest names.
