The latest UEFA Champions League matchday featured several Nigerian players, showcasing a mixed bag of performances across European centers. Ademola Lookman, the Super Eagles forward, put in a solid 90-minute shift for Atalanta, contributing to their 1-0 victory over Chelsea with three shots, 54 touches, and 83% pass accuracy. In contrast, Igoh Ogbu had a challenging day, playing the full 90 minutes for Slavia Prague in a 3-0 loss to Tottenham, where he notably conceded a penalty. Meanwhile, Bruno Onyemaechi remained on the bench for Olympiakos during their 1-0 win against Kairat Almaty.

A significant focus was on Victor Osimhen, who returned to action for Galatasaray in their 1-0 defeat against Monaco. Despite his presence, Osimhen was effectively 'caged' by Monaco's defense, registering five shots, 25 touches, and winning nine of his 15 duels but failing to score. This match also marked the end of his impressive eight-game European scoring streak, which included six goals in last season's Europa League and six goals in three Champions League appearances this season. Galatasaray's coach, Okan Buruk, expressed his disappointment with the loss, acknowledging the team's struggles and questioning the contributions of other attacking players.

Osimhen's impact at Galatasaray, while transformative, has come at a significant financial cost. His permanent transfer from Napoli was a record-breaking deal for Turkish football, exceeding €30 million and involving the largest salary package in the league's history, with the total cost estimated at €150 million. Coach Buruk openly admitted that this financial strain has impacted the club's ability to secure reinforcements, especially given their recent run of three losses in six games and ongoing injury woes. Turkish football analyst Sinan Engin further criticized Galatasaray's overall quality and physical conditioning, suggesting that Monaco easily bypassed their midfield and that the team relies too heavily on Osimhen's individual brilliance.

Despite these club-level challenges, Victor Osimhen continues to earn significant individual accolades. He was recently honored as the 'Sportsman of the Year' at the 2025 GQ Türkiye Men of the Year Awards in Istanbul, becoming the first Nigerian to win in this category and only the third footballer in a decade. This award acknowledges his exceptional contributions, including 37 goals and 8 assists last season, which propelled Galatasaray to a domestic double, and his ongoing performance with 11 goals in 14 matches this current campaign. Osimhen, who expressed deep gratitude for the award, has a history of breaking barriers, being crowned African Footballer of the Year in 2023 and becoming the first Nigerian to break into the top 10 of the Ballon d’Or rankings that same year.

However, a critical concern has emerged regarding the Nigerian national team's overreliance on Osimhen. Former Nigeria international Tijani Babangida has voiced strong warnings to Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, urging him to develop a system that thrives with or without Osimhen. Babangida highlighted the stark contrast in Nigeria's performance: only five losses in 40 matches with Osimhen fit, compared to 11 defeats in 29 games without him. This dependency was acutely felt during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where the team struggled in his absence, and also in the AFCON final against DR Congo, where his injury proved costly. Babangida insists that Chelle must instill a mentality among all players, especially attackers, that the team is not solely built around one individual, ensuring sustained morale and performance regardless of Osimhen's availability as injury is part of the game. Nigeria is preparing for AFCON 2025, with their campaign set to kick off on December 23.

Adding to his widespread acclaim, Dutch international Emmanuel Emegha, set to join Chelsea in 2026, has showered praise on Osimhen, describing him as a "rare forward" possessing attributes difficult to find at the elite level. Emegha, who has closely followed Osimhen’s career from Napoli to Galatasaray, particularly admires his exceptional ability to control difficult aerial balls and dominate defenders with his energy and athleticism. This high regard from peers underscores Osimhen's status as a global figure in football, even as he navigates the complexities of club finances and national team strategy. He is expected to join Nigeria's AFCON 2025 preparations in Egypt after his final club match of the year against Antalyaspor.