Victor Osimhen has handed Galatasaray a timely boost after returning to full training ahead of Saturday’s highly anticipated Istanbul derby against Fenerbahçe, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigerian striker had been sidelined for 11 days with a hamstring strain sustained during international duty with the Super Eagles.
The 26-year-old suffered the setback in the final of the African World Cup qualifying play-off Tournament in Morocco, where Nigeria were held 1–1 by DR Congo before losing 4–3 on penalties.
The injury ruled him out of Galatasaray’s 3–2 league win over Gençlerbirliği and their narrow 1–0 Champions League defeat to Union St. Gilloise, two matches in which his absence was clearly felt.
Fresh images released by Galatasaray on their X (Twitter) page show Osimhen training with the ball and moving freely, an indication that he is on course for involvement in this weekend’s derby at Rams Park.
Aslanlarımız, Trendyol Süper Lig’in 14. haftasında Fenerbahçe ile yapacağı maçın hazırlıklarını bugün Kemerburgaz Metin Oktay Tesisleri’nde yaptığı antrenmanla sürdürdü. #FBvGS pic.twitter.com/6Xwd5lTc2f
— Galatasaray SK (@GalatasaraySK) November 28, 2025
Galatasaray head into the clash holding a slim one-point lead at the top of the Super Lig, adding extra weight to what is already one of world football’s most emotionally charged fixtures.
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Victor Osimhen’s fitness questions persist as Nigerian stars shine in aerial records
Despite the encouraging signs, uncertainty remains over whether Osimhen will be deemed fit enough to start.
Club officials are expected to assess him closer to matchday, but even a place on the bench would offer a psychological lift for Okan Buruk’s side as they aim to widen the gap between themselves and Domenico Tedesco’s in-form Fenerbahçe.
Fenerbahçe arrive at the derby unbeaten in 11 matches across all competitions and remain the only side yet to lose in the league this season. Their solidity, attacking fluency, and recent consistency suggest a far stiffer challenge than the previous campaign, when Galatasaray met them three times and emerged victorious twice, drawing the other.
Meanwhile, Osimhen remains one of the finest headers in the game. The Super Eagles forward ranks fifth in football’s all-time highest jump records, thanks to his stunning 2.58-metre leap for Napoli against Spezia in February 2023. His aerial command has translated smoothly into his Galatasaray spell, with the forward netting nine goals in 12 games across competitions so far this season.
Fellow Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu also features among elite company, ranking second in global bicycle-kick height records.
His 2.41-metre overhead strike for Trabzonspor against Fatih Karagumruk last year briefly broke Cristiano Ronaldo’s previous mark before Scotland’s Scott McTominay set a new record at 2.53 metres in November.
Onuachu has scored nine goals and provided one assist in 13 league appearances for Trabzonspor this term.