Victor Osimhen Set for Gala Return Amid Turkish Mosque Controversy

Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has confirmed that Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen will make his return to action on Friday against Karagumruk, as the Turkish mosque controversy surrounding his name continues to make headlines.

Buruk addressed the speculation surrounding Osimhen’s absence from Galatasaray’s 3-0 victory over Gaziantep on Saturday, explaining that the 26-year-old forward needed more time to regain full fitness after joining the club from Napoli in a record €75 million deal.

“Osimhen had a five or six-day training period,” Buruk explained, as reported by CNN Turk. “Playing during that period could have been risky for him. I spoke to him about this, and he indicated he was considering resting for this match and aiming for some playing time in the next one.”

Osimhen, who reported late for pre-season training due to prolonged transfer negotiations, has been working on regaining full fitness ahead of his highly anticipated debut for the Istanbul giants.

However, his move to Turkey has been marred by an unexpected controversy. Shortly after his arrival, the Bulut Mosque in Konya was listed on Google Maps as the “Victor Osimhen Mosque,” sparking outrage among local worshippers. The mosque, completed in 2008, had previously been known by its original name but has now prompted backlash from the community, who insist the name should be restored.

A member of the mosque congregation said, “We have been a congregation of Bulut Mosque since we have been here. We are against it being changed to Victor Osimhen. The name Victor Osimhen is a Christian name. As the mosque congregation, we want the authorities to look into this issue.”

Another congregant added, “On the internet, the location says the mosque is in Victor Osimhen’s name, but this has been the Bulut Mosque for 10 years. Everyone has known this place as such. He is not a football player from Konyaspor. He did no good for the mosque, and he’s not someone Konya will never forget. We don’t understand the relevance of this.”

Zeki Yaylacı, another mosque member, called the situation offensive, saying, “It’s a shame to name a non-Muslim and make a mockery of it. We consider it an insult to Muslims, the mosque community, and mosques themselves. We urge the authorities to introduce regulations to prevent such changes from being made so easily.”

There has been no indication that Osimhen was aware of or involved in the Google Maps name change, which appears to have been the result of incorrect user edits. Local authorities have since been urged to correct the error.

Despite the controversy, Osimhen is focusing on his return to the pitch, having impressed during his loan spell at Galatasaray last season, where he scored 37 goals and provided eight assists in 41 appearances. His contract with the club places him among the highest-paid players in Europe, making him the biggest signing in Turkish football history.