Victor Osimhen is gearing up to make his eagerly awaited return to Galatasaray’s starting lineup this Friday, as head coach Okan Buruk confirms the Nigerian striker’s readiness to feature against Karagumruk. The news comes as a surprising controversy unfolds in Turkey, where a local mosque has been mistakenly renamed after the football star online — sparking backlash among worshippers.
Osimhen, who joined the Istanbul giants in a record-breaking €75 million transfer from Napoli this summer, was rested during Galatasaray’s recent 3-0 win over Gaziantep. Coach Buruk explained the decision was made to protect the striker’s fitness, revealing that Osimhen had only completed a limited training period after delayed transfer negotiations. “Playing him too soon could have posed a risk,” Buruk told CNN Turk. “We agreed he would sit out this match and focus on being ready for the next.”
The 26-year-old forward had an outstanding loan spell with Galatasaray last season, scoring 37 goals and assisting eight times in 41 appearances, quickly becoming a fan favorite. Now fully back in training and under contract as one of Europe’s highest-paid players, Osimhen is expected to make a significant impact upon his official debut for the Turkish club.
However, Osimhen’s arrival hasn’t been without unexpected drama. Reports from Turkish news outlet Fanatik revealed that the Bulut Mosque in Konya’s Karatay district, constructed in 2008, was inaccurately listed on Google Maps as the “Victor Osimhen Mosque.” The mistaken renaming has upset members of the mosque community, who have called for the correction of the mosque’s official name.
“We have been the Bulut Mosque congregation for years,” a local worshipper said. “It is not right to change it to Victor Osimhen. His name is Christian, and we ask the authorities to resolve this issue.” Another congregant voiced confusion over the link, pointing out that Osimhen has no connection to the mosque or the region’s local football team, Konyaspor.
Community member Zeki Yaylacı described the incident as an insult, emphasizing the need for stricter controls on online place names. “It’s disrespectful to Muslims and to the mosque itself,” he said. “The government should prevent these kinds of errors from happening so easily.”
There is no evidence that Osimhen was aware of or involved in the renaming, which appears to be the result of inaccurate user edits on Google Maps. Local authorities are now being urged to correct the information promptly.
As Osimhen prepares to step back onto the field for Galatasaray, fans and followers across Turkey and Nigeria alike will be watching closely — hoping the striker’s performance can put the online controversy firmly behind him.