Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen has celebrated his daughter’s 3rd birthday in grand style.
In a post on Instagram, he shared a touching message, describing his little girl as the light that brightens his world and the sweetest blessing God has given him.
“You are the light that brightens my world and the sweetest blessing GOD has given me. Every smile you share melts my heart, every laugh you make fills me with joy, and every hug reminds me how lucky I am to be your parent,” he wrote.
Osimhen went on to express how watching her grow over the past three years has been the most magical journey of his life, calling her smart, kind, playful, and full of love.
He prayed for God’s protection over her life, adding, “May your life always be filled with laughter, happiness, and endless love. GOD will continue to protect you from the eyes of the evil ones, AMEN! Daddy/Mummy loves you more than words can ever explain. ❤️🌹🙏🏽🥰 HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVE! (BIG 3).”
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has praised Victor Osimhen following the Reds’ UEFA Champions League loss to Galatasaray on Tuesday.
Van Dijk said the Nigerian international created some chances for himself but couldn’t convert them.
The Dutch defender, however, noted that Osimhen did convert his penalty against Liverpool.
Recall that a first-half penalty gave Galatasaray the victory against the Premier League champions at Rams Park.
Speaking after the game, Van Dijk also admitted that Arne Slot’s side made mistakes against the hosts.
“They won a penalty and a few chances because of our mistakes. It was a bit of a messy game,” Van Dijk was quoted by Habersarikirmizi as saying after the game.
“After a terrible performance at the weekend, we are facing a hard defeat to accept.
“Osimhen converted the penalty. He also had some chances due to our mistakes.
“He could not capitalize on them, but he did manage to create some for himself. Galatasaray’s attacking players are successful.”
Victor Osimhen was the difference on a thunderous Champions League night as Galatasaray handed Liverpool their second successive defeat.
The Nigerian forward struck from the penalty spot in the 16th minute after Dominik Szoboszlai fouled Baris Alper Yilmaz, punishing the Premier League champions in front of a deafening RAMS Park crowd.
The goal came seconds after Davinson Sanchez had denied Cody Gakpo with a clearance off the line, swinging the tide firmly Galatasaray’s way.
Slot’s gamble backfires as Reds toil
Liverpool coach Arne Slot chose to start without Mohamed Salah, hoping to spark a reaction after the weekend loss at Crystal Palace.
But the decision misfired, with Salah and Alexander Isak only introduced after the hour mark to little effect.
Alisson kept Liverpool in the contest with several big saves, including one from Osimhen, before limping off injured.
A late chance to level disappeared when Ibrahima Konate’s penalty claim was overturned by VAR, silencing brief celebrations.
Reds exposed under pressure
Liverpool once again looked fragile at the back, their expensively assembled attack failing to leave a mark.
Florian Wirtz was anonymous, while Hugo Ekitike added to the problems by departing injured.
The result leaves Slot’s side facing early questions in Europe despite sitting top of the Premier League.
They face Chelsea next in the Premier League this weekend.
Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has disclosed that Victor Osimhen is still struggling with pain from an injury picked up during international duty with Nigeria but is expected to make a return to action soon.
The 26-year-old striker picked up the knock last week while representing the Super Eagles and immediately returned to Turkey for treatment. Galatasaray confirmed his situation in a statement on their official website.
Osimhen was unavailable for the Yellow and Reds’ 2-0 victory over Eyupspor on Saturday, but Buruk remains optimistic about his recovery ahead of their crucial UEFA Champions League opener.
“Osimhen’s condition will be determined within a few days. We’re hopeful he’ll play. We think he will, but of course, he’s in pain,” Buruk told the club’s official media.
Galatasaray face Eintracht Frankfurt away on Thursday in their first Champions League group stage match of the season, and Buruk will be eager to have his star forward available.
Osimhen, who joined Galatasaray from Napoli this summer in a high-profile transfer, is seen as central to the Turkish champions’ European ambitions. He arrived after a successful spell in Serie A, where he fired Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years in 2023 and won the African Footballer of the Year award.
His fitness will be closely monitored in the coming days, with Nigerian fans also anxious about his availability ahead of next month’s World Cup qualifiers.
Fenerbahce legend Umit Ozat has raised serious financial concerns over Galatasaray’s record-breaking acquisition of Victor Osimhen, describing the deal as unsustainable and disproportionate to Turkey’s economic reality.
Speaking on SkySpor’s YouTube channel, Ozat questioned how any Turkish club could justify splashing such staggering sums, even for a player of Osimhen’s quality.
“Can you say that signing Osimhen was a bad thing? No. But the cost is far above the national economy,” Ozat stated.
“Osimhen is a valuable, high-quality, and great player, but for our clubs, these amounts are a lot of money.”
Galatasaray paid €75 million to secure the Nigerian striker from Napoli, the most expensive transfer in Turkish football history.
Osimhen will reportedly earn €15 million per season, with an additional €1 million in loyalty bonuses and €5 million in image rights annually.
Ozat clarified he would have criticized such financial outlay even if Fenerbahce had made the move.
“I don’t envy the transfer. These amounts of money shouldn’t be given lightly. I hope they can come up with the money,” he added.
Osimhen has already joined pre-season training with Galatasaray as the club gears up for the 2025–26 campaign.
Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek has urged the club to compete on all fronts in the 2025/2026 season after they secured the services of Victor Osimhen, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Super Eagles star spent the 2024/2025 season on loan with the Turkish side, scoring 37 goals and providing seven assists in 41 games for the Cim Bom Aslan.
In addition, the ex-LOSC Lille striker won the Turkish Super Lig and the league cup title with Galatasaray, crowning their season with the domestic double.
After a long-drawn-out negotiation period, Galatasaray signed Osimhen on a four-year deal from Napoli. The Italian side held out and retained a 10% sell-on clause in their deal while making sure he wouldn’t be able to join any Italian club over the next two seasons.
Gala President wants UEFA Champions League with Osimhen
Galatasaray’s vice-president, Abdullah Kavukçu, took pride in his side’s ability to pull off the Osimhen deal without needing financial assistance from anywhere else.
Now, the club’s President, Dursun Aydın Özbek, echoed the same thoughts and urged the players to give their all in fighting for all trophies this season.
“The Galatasaray community had a tremendous expectation. For various reasons, we had the opportunity to visit many parts of Turkey.
“Everywhere I go, even in the farthest corner, people come and say, ‘Is President Osimhen coming?’ they were asking.
“Osimhen deserved that interest in his performance at our club last year. Therefore, in response to this love, we, as a government, have done everything we could to bring him to Galatasaray,” the 76-year-old said in quotes from Galatasaray’s official website.
“We saw it last night. He has a huge flood of love. He’s a worthy player. I am sure that he will do his best as long as he stays at Galatasaray next year and in the following years.
“I’d like to welcome him. I wish him successful seasons at Galatasaray. The fan expects him. He knows it.
“As management, I am happy to meet the expectations of Galatasaray fans with my friends. Our goal this year is to have a successful season in the Champions League.
“I wish both Victor and all our players a successful league and a successful Champions League period. Happy Victor, Happy Galatasaray,” the President concluded.
The 2023 CAF Player of the Year is also eager to repay the faith shown in him by Galatasaray management, who went all out to secure his services for €75M.
“I feel very big right now. I am delighted to be part of the Galatasaray family again. First of all, I’d like to thank my president and our Vice President.
“We have a very positive team right now. I’m so proud to be here. You know my quality because of last season. I believe that we will achieve much greater success with a feeling of much greater belonging, with the quality of both me and my teammates in the next season.
“We will give everything on the field, not only in the league and in the cup, but also in the Champions League, which is one of our main goals.
“I did not expect as much as I saw it. There was a welcome far beyond what I expected. In Germany, I was already on the support of Galatasaray, and when I first came here, it was one of the most important reasons for me to feel happy here,” Osimhen said.
“I’ll keep fighting for the fans with every sweat drop. I’ll keep fighting the same way in the next game. I would like to thank my president, our deputy president and our teacher.
They fought so hard for me to be here. And I salute the supporters from here,” the former VfL Wolfsburg man concluded.
Galatasaray are set to compete on all fronts after securing the services of Victor Osimhen and Leroy Sane this summer. Okan Buruk’s side are edging closer to sealing a deal for Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes.
Dursun Özbek, the Galatasaray president, has stated that Victor Osimhen will not be forced to leave the club in January.
Osimhen linked up with the Yellow and Reds from Serie A club, Napoli on loan in September.
There is a clause in the contract which allow the striker to move to another club in January.
The 25-year-old has recently been linked with a move to Manchester United.
Özbek however believed the NigerIan will remain at the club for the remainder of the campaign.
‘”He is our player this season. There is a very difficult clause for him to leave at mid-season. According to our agreement, he will play for us until the end of the season,” he told A Spor.
“No one should bend him. He will make his own decision at the end of the season. If he wants to continue at Galatasaray, he can.”
Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian forward, has solidified his place in the country’s football history by becoming the joint-second all-time top scorer for the Super Eagles.
Osimhen achieved the milestone on Thursday night, scoring his 23rd goal for Nigeria in a crucial 1-1 draw against Benin Republic during their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
The Galatasaray striker now shares the second spot on the nation’s scoring chart with the legendary Segun Odegbami.
The late Rashidi Yekini remains Nigeria’s top scorer with an unmatched tally of 37 goals.
At just 25 years old, Osimhen has the potential to climb higher on the scoring chart.
He will have another opportunity to surpass Odegbami and edge closer to Yekini’s record when the Super Eagles face Rwanda’s Amavubi in their final 2025 AFCON qualifier on Monday.
Osimhen’s consistent goal-scoring exploits continue to solidify his reputation as one of Africa’s finest footballers and a pivotal figure for the Super Eagles.
In preparation for Nigeria’s Super Eagles Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya in Uyo on Friday, coach Austin Eguavoen stated that the team has sufficient firepower to compensate for Victor Osimhen’s absence.
Osimhen would not feature in the two-legged tie after suffering an injury during Galatasaray’s Super Lig encounter against Kasımpaşa on September 28.
The diagnosis revealed a strain and minor bleeding in his left posterior muscle group and that meant he will not recover in time for the trip to Uyo.
In his pre-match interaction with the media, Eguavoen said although Osimhen is a key part of the team, there are those who will step up to the challenge.
“It’s a huge miss. We all know how important and impactful Osimhen can be, but we have other players who can fit into his shoes. He’s not here physically, but I am 100% sure he is here spiritually with us,” Eguavoen told NFF TV.
After Friday’s game at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo, the Super Eagles will travel to fulfil the reverse fixture next Tuesday, October 15.
Nigeria currently tops Group D with four point from two games.
Tomorrow’s fixture will kick-off 5 PM Nigeria time.
Victor Osimhen has been inundated with congratulatory messages from fans and notable entertainment figures, despite no official confirmation.
