Victor Osimhen and Galatasaray will be aiming for redemption after their first league defeat of the season, a 2-1 loss to Besiktas, as they prepare for a high-stakes Turkish Cup quarter-final against Fenerbahçe on April 2, Footynaija.com reports.
The Nigerian striker, who has been in sensational form, endured a rare goalless outing against Besiktas, breaking a run of five consecutive games in which he had found the net for club and country.
Having netted twice for Nigeria against Rwanda and another in the draw with Zimbabwe, Osimhen will be eager to get back among the goals. However, finding the net against José Mourinho’s well-drilled Fenerbahçe defence will be no easy task.
The derby will also feature a showdown between two of Turkey’s most prolific strikers this season — Osimhen and Youssef En-Nesyri.
As Galatasaray signed superstar striker Osimhen, Fenerbahce went all in for Youssef En-Nesyri instead.
— IM (@Iconic_Mourinho) February 27, 2025
En-Nesyri is now on 27 G+A in the last 24 matches, and has 18 goals in the last 14 matches – with some crucial winners.
Mourinho’s trust paying offpic.twitter.com/xju5GQs6kc
Both forwards have scored 26 goals across all competitions and will be crucial to their sides’ hopes of progressing to the semi-finals.
En-Nesyri has been Mourinho’s go-to marksman, netting 16 times in the league, six in Europe, and four in the cup. Meanwhile, Osimhen has been Galatasaray’s spearhead, with 20 league goals and six in European competition.
Fenerbahçe will also look to experienced striker Edin Džeko, who has contributed 19 goals this season, while Galatasaray will count on additional firepower from Barış Alper Yılmaz and Ahmed Kutucu.
Osimhen is yet to win a domestic cup title in his career, although he played an instrumental role as Napoli won the Scudetto in 2023 for the first time in three decades.
