KEY POINTS
- Coach Okan Buruk says striker will feature against Karagumruk after being rested.
- Google Maps incorrectly listed Bulut Mosque as “Victor Osimhen Mosque.”
- Worshippers call for authorities to restore original name.
Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk said Nigeria international Victor Osimhen will feature in Friday’s clash against Karagumruk after sitting out Saturday’s 3-0 win over Gaziantep.
“Osimhen had a five or six-day training period,” Buruk told CNN Turk. “Playing during that period could have been risky for him. He preferred to rest and be ready for the next match.”
The 26-year-old joined the Istanbul club from Napoli this summer in a €75 million deal, the biggest transfer in Turkish football history, but arrived late to pre-season following protracted negotiations.
Google Maps listing triggers uproar
Osimhen’s debut is unfolding against an unusual backdrop: a mosque in central Konya appearing on Google Maps as “Victor Osimhen Mosque.” Worshippers at the Bulut Mosque—its name since 2008—have lodged formal complaints, calling the listing offensive and irrelevant.
“This has always been Bulut Mosque,” one congregant told Fanatik. “The name Victor Osimhen is a Christian name. We want the authorities to look into this.”
Furthermore others called the change “an insult to Muslims” and demanded tighter controls on online map edits.
No link to player
Moreover there is no indication Osimhen was aware of or involved in the incident, which appears to stem from incorrect user edits. Turkish authorities are being urged to intervene with Google to restore the correct name.
The Nigerian striker, who scored 37 goals and made eight assists during a loan spell at Galatasaray last season, has now returned to full training. His contract reportedly places him among Europe’s highest-paid players.
