Victor Osimhen faces five-week recovery after knee surgery

Victor Osimhen, a striker for Galatasaray, is expected to be sidelined for up to five weeks due to a knee injury sustained during the club's 2-0 UEFA Champions League victory over Stuttgart on November 3. Initial assessments indicated a three-week recovery, but a recent operation on November 7 revealed a more complex rehabilitation process.

Turkish sports journalist Ali Naci Küçük reported that doctors successfully removed a loose fragment from Osimhen's left knee. His condition will be reassessed in ten days, but the anticipated recovery time means he will miss important matches, including domestic games against Samsunspor and Beşiktaş, as well as a Champions League match against Aston Villa on November 24.

Osimhen's previous absences from international duty with the Super Eagles due to fitness issues had led to unfounded claims of him faking injuries, but the recent surgery substantiates his ongoing physical challenges. He will remain in Istanbul for treatment and will miss Nigeria's upcoming fixtures against Tanzania.