Galatasaray Face Osimhen Absence If Nigeria Reach AFCON 2025 Final

Galatasaray Face Osimhen Absence If Nigeria Reach AFCON 2025 Final

By Admin 

Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen could miss several key fixtures for the Turkish champions if Nigeria advance to the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), according to club reporter Ali Naci Küçük, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The 2025 AFCON is scheduled to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, meaning players involved in the tournament may be unavailable for their clubs during that period.

Speaking on the SkySpor YouTube channel, Küçük revealed that Osimhen is expected to link up with the Nigerian national team in the second week of December, ahead of the tournament’s kickoff in Morocco. “Galatasaray players are unaware of the threat posed by the African Cup starting in December. Victor Osimhen will join the Nigerian national team camp in the second week of December,” Küçük said.

The journalist added that should Nigeria reach the final, Osimhen would be away from club duty until January 20, ruling him out of four Süper Lig matches and potentially Galatasaray’s Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid.

“If Nigeria go all the way to the final, Osimhen will not be able to play for Galatasaray until January 20. There’s also a chance he’ll miss the Atletico Madrid match. In this scenario, coach Okan Buruk is looking to rely more on Mauro Icardi,” Küçük explained.

The situation could pose a major selection challenge for Buruk, as Galatasaray aim to maintain their domestic title defence while navigating the Champions League knockout stages.