'I have to travel' - Galatasaray striker Osimhen in a hurry to join Super Eagles camp in Rabat

Victor Osimhen had little time to dwell on Galatasaray's surprising 1-0 defeat to Kocaelispor in a Turkish Super Lig encounter at the Kocaeli Stadium on Sunday evening.

The reigning Super Lig champions failed to recover from a first half setback as Dan Agyei netted what proved to be the decisive goal.

Serdar Dursun nodded a long ball from the goalkeeper into the path of Agyei, who beat his marker down the right flank and slotted a low finish inside the near post in the 45th minute.

Osimhen thought he had salvaged a point for Galatasaray seven minutes from time but referee Cagdas Altay ruled the effort out after a VAR review.

The goal was disallowed as midfielder Gabriel Sara was adjudged to have been in an offside position when the ball crossed the line.

Approached by reporters in the mixed zone after the final whistle, Osimhen made it clear that his attention had already shifted to international duty as he prepared to join up with the Super Eagles in Rabat ahead of Thursday's 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff against Gabon.

"I have to travel. The game has happened, it has happened. I have moved on from that. Now I focus on my national team," Osimhen said as he made his way out of the stadium.

Osimhen has vowed to give his all to help Nigeria secure qualification for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, after missing out on the 2022 edition in Qatar. 

By 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, eight of the invited players had reported to the Super Eagles camp, including Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare, Olakunle Olusegun, Wilfred Ndidi, Moses Simon and William Troost-Ekong.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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