Victor Osimhen's absence proves costly as Galatasaray lose Super Cup title to bitter rivals Fenerbahce

The void left by Victor Osimhen was impossible to fill as Galatasaray suffered a humbling 2-0 defeat to bitter rivals Fenerbahce in Saturday's Turkish Super Cup Final, ending their five-match unbeaten streak against their cross-city nemesis.

While the Nigerian striker was 2,500 miles away in Morocco, guiding the Super Eagles through the AFCON semi-finals, his club side looked utterly toothless at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.

The absence of their talismanic number nine exposed a troubling reality: Galatasaray have become dangerously dependent on their African star.

Fenerbahce's new French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi broke the deadlock in the 28th minute with a clinical finish that silenced the Galatasaray faithful. The Lions struggled to create anything meaningful in response, their attack lacking the focal point and menace that Osimhen routinely provides.

Any hopes of a second-half comeback evaporated just three minutes after the restart when defender Jayden Oosterwolde doubled the advantage, capping a dominant performance from Domenico Tedesco's well-drilled side.

For Fenerbahce, it marked a historic 10th Turkish Super Cup win and sent an emphatic message about their ambitions for 2026.

Mauro Icardi, tasked with leading the line in Osimhen's absence, endured a frustrating evening. The Argentine veteran, who has thrived alongside the Nigerian this season, found himself completely isolated against Milan Skriniar's commanding defensive display.

Without Osimhen's physical presence to stretch defences and create space, Galatasaray's attacking patterns disintegrated.

"We missed Victor's movement, his power, everything he brings," one dejected Galatasaray supporter said outside the stadium. "Icardi needs someone like Osimhen beside him. Alone, it's too difficult."

Adding salt to the wound, news filtered through during the match that Osimhen had just scored Nigeria's opening goal against Algeria in the AFCON semi-final.

The timing was almost poetic in its cruelty, Galatasaray conceding while their star man was finding the net thousands of miles away.

Social media erupted with frustrated reactions from the Turkish champions' supporters.

"Osimhen scores for his country while we're losing a final," became a recurring lament across fan forums and Twitter threads. Many argued the result would have been completely different with their record striker on the pitch.

This defeat raises uncomfortable questions for Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk about his squad's depth and over-reliance on one player. While Osimhen's world-class ability justifies his central role, the complete collapse without him suggests a structural vulnerability that rivals will surely look to exploit.

The Lions have built their title challenge around the former Napoli striker's devastating combination of pace, power and finishing. When that weapon is removed from their arsenal, they appear alarmingly one-dimensional.

For Nigerian fans watching from afar, it's another validation of Osimhen's exceptional talent, he's irreplaceable at the highest level. For Galatasaray supporters, it's a worrying preview of next summer, when European giants will inevitably come calling with offers that may prove too lucrative to refuse.

Nevertheless, credit must go to Fenerbahce, who exploited their rivals' weakness with ruthless efficiency. Tedesco's tactical discipline and Guendouzi's instant impact as a January signing highlighted a team firing on all cylinders at precisely the right moment.

The bragging rights in Istanbul's most intense rivalry now belong to the Yellow Canaries, who ended Galatasaray's recent dominance in derby encounters dating back to early 2024.

As Osimhen continues his AFCON journey with Nigeria, Galatasaray must quickly regroup. The Turkish Super Lig title race remains tight, but this painful lesson in dependency may haunt them long after the Nigerian eventually returns to action.

Final Score: Galatasaray 0-2 Fenerbahçe Scorers: Guendouzi 28', Oosterwolde 48' Venue: Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul