Victor Osimhen under attack as Cameroon star says ex-Chelsea man would ‘play better’ at Galatasaray

Cameroon forward Vincent Aboubakar has stirred fresh debate in the Turkish Super Lig after boldly declaring that Victor Osimhen is not the league’s best striker, Soccernet.ng reports.

Instead, the former Besiktas man believes English forward Tammy Abraham, now at Besiktas, is the most complete striker currently plying his trade in Turkey.

Osimhen, who joined Galatasaray permanently this summer for €75 million after a sensational loan spell, arrived as the Turkish Super Lig's reigning top scorer, Best Player and Best Goal award winner.

His performances last season drove Galatasaray to a domestic double and further sealed the Nigerian's status as one of Europe’s elite finishers. His permanent switch from Napoli became the most expensive transfer in Turkish football history, a signing widely celebrated across Istanbul.

But while Osimhen remains one of the league’s headline acts, Aboubakar insists he rates Abraham higher. This the former Porto man made clear when asked to compare the two alongside Trabzonspor's Paul Onuachu and Fenerbahçe's Youssef En-Nesyri.

“Based on the football they play, Tammy Abraham,” Aboubakar told Ertem Şener YT as per FutbolArena.

“Because he knows football well. The team needs to use the player well. If he can't score, you need to improve around him. Since Galatasaray works well, Osimhen scores goals. Put Abraham in Galatasaray. He’d score a lot. He’d play better than Osimhen.”

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Is Victor Osimhen the best striker in Turkey?

Osimhen’s second spell in Turkey has started unevenly. Injuries and fitness issues have limited him to only three league goals in his first ten Super Lig matches this season. That is a sharp contrast to his sensational Champions League form where six goals in three games points to his impact on the European stage.

Elsewhere, Paul Onuachu has made an electric return to Trabzonspor, leading the league with 11 goals in 14 matches. Istanbul Basaksehir’s Eldor Shomurodov follows closely with 10, while En-Nesyri and Mauro Icardi sit on seven apiece. Abraham, despite flashes of promise, has found the net only five times in 14 league outings.

Still, Aboubakar believes Abraham’s all-round qualities outrank his rivals.

Beyond the Osimhen comparison, Aboubakar also downplayed the hype around the Nigerian, particularly in relation to Galatasaray teammate Icardi.

“Mauro Icardi plays good football. Osimhen just has goals. If you take away the goals, what else can he do?” Aboubakar said.

Aboubakar's comments arrive at a time when the Super Lig is enjoying one of its most talent-rich seasons in recent memory.

Fenerbahçe boast marquee names like Anderson Talisca and Marco Asensio, while Galatasaray added Leroy Sané to their already star-laden squad. The league has become a magnet for international forwards, raising the competitive bar, and the volume of debates.

For Osimhen, however, the scrutiny is nothing new. In 2023, he was crowned CAF African Footballer of the Year, and this year he finished among the top three for the award, behind Achraf Hakimi and Mo Salah. Globally, he is still widely regarded as one of the top five strikers in the world and continues to be linked with elite clubs, including Real Madrid.

On the international stage, he remains Nigeria’s leading light. With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations approaching, Osimhen is expected to carry the hopes of more than 300 million Nigerians as the Super Eagles chase a fourth continental title.