Turkish Super Lig

Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen faces potential mask ban in showdown with Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe

Victor Osimhen may be forced to remove his iconic protective face mask when Galatasaray take on their fierce rivals Fenerbahçe, managed by Jose Mourinho, in this weekend’s highly anticipated Turkish Super Lig derby, Soccernet.ng reports.

The clash is set to be a pivotal moment in the season, with both sides vying for dominance in what is regarded as Turkey’s biggest football rivalry.

Osimhen, who joined Galatasaray with high expectations, has been wearing the mask since suffering a serious facial injury during his time at Napoli.

The injury, sustained in a collision with Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar, required surgery and the insertion of six plates and 18 screws into Osimhen’s face.

Since then, the mask has become a permanent feature for the Nigerian striker, providing him with protection as he continues his prolific career.

However, reports from Turkey suggest that Fenerbahçe fans are pressuring the Turkish Football Federation to ban Osimhen from wearing the mask, arguing that it poses a potential risk to opponents.

This controversy arose after Galatasaray’s recent 4-1 victory over Çaykur Rizespor, in which Osimhen collided with Rizespor player Khusniddin Alikulov, leading to the latter’s concussion.

Former referee Fırat Aydınus weighed in on the matter, stating on a Turkish TV program:

“If the accessory you wear harms both your opponent’s and your own health, the referee can tell you not to wear it.”

Concerns have been raised over the mask’s metal components, with some questioning whether it contributed to Alikulov’s injury.

Despite the mask debate, Osimhen remains a crucial figure for Galatasaray, and the upcoming derby will be a true test of his impact on Turkish football.

His record against Mourinho, who previously managed AS Roma, is impressive, with three goals in six appearances.

 

 

As Osimhen prepares for this high-stakes encounter, Galatasaray fans will be hoping their star striker can lead them to victory.

This weekend’s match will not only determine early-season supremacy but also provide insight into Galatasaray’s ambitions of retaining their Süper Lig title and making a mark in Europe.

All eyes will be on Osimhen as he faces his toughest challenge yet in Turkish football — mask or no mask.

This post was last modified on %s = human-readable time difference 2:07 pm

Imhons Erons

View Comments

Share
Published by
Imhons Erons

Recent Posts

“He can still play this year” – Boniface’s boss Alonso offers hope amid speculation of year-ending injury

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has provided an update on Nigerian striker Victor Boniface’s injury,… Read More

5 hours ago

“He needs to decide” – Former Liverpool winger weighs in Osimhen’s future at Galatasaray

Former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel has called on Super Eagles attacker, Victor Osimhen, to make… Read More

6 hours ago

Bright Osayi-Samuel free to negotiate January pre-contract amid Fenerbahçe uncertainty

Super Eagles defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel, could negotiate a pre-contract with any club of his choice… Read More

9 hours ago

Deliver results to avoid criticism – Ex-Nigeria International to Eguavoen

Former Super Eagles and Enyimba International midfielder, Duke Udi, has sent a message to Augustine… Read More

10 hours ago

Report: Juventus eye Super Eagles striker as possible Vlahovic replacement

Former Italian Serie A champions Juventus could sign Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen if Dusan… Read More

11 hours ago

“European football is different from Africa” – Former Super Eagles midfielder urges Eguavoen to axe poor-performing players from national team

Former Super Eagles and Enyimba International midfielder, Duke Udi, has prompted Interim Super Eagles coach,… Read More

11 hours ago