Soccer
Victor Osimhen in action for Galatasaray. Copyright: IMAGO
Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has reacted to Galatasaray’s dramatic 4-2 victory over Antalyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 27-year-old played a starring role as the Cimbom secured a record-extending 26th Turkish top-flight title and their fourth consecutive league crown in front of their home fans.
Galatasaray had missed the chance to clinch the title last weekend after suffering a shock 4-1 defeat to Samsunspor and it looked like they would be forced to wait another week after falling behind in first-half stoppage time when Soner Dikmen gave the visitors the lead.
Mario Lemina restored parity for Galatasaray just minutes into the second half, but the title race drama continued as Dikmen grabbed his second goal of the game with a stunning free-kick to put Antalyaspor back in front.
Osimhen then stepped up for the hosts, converting a penalty that he had won himself after being fouled inside the box. The Nigerian striker completed the turnaround in the 88th minute, firing Galatasaray ahead for the first time in the match and moving them to the brink of another historic league triumph.
Galatasaray eventually held off late pressure from Antalyaspor before Kaan Ayhan added a fourth goal to seal both the victory and the title for the Istanbul giants.
Soccer Victor Osimhen reacts to Galatasaray’s title win
Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen had promised a response following last weekend’s disappointing defeat to Samsunspor and he delivered in style with a match-winning brace that inspired Galatasaray to championship glory.
The Super Eagles star has now taken his tally to 22 goals across all competitions this season and also secured his third trophy with the club after helping them win the league and cup double last campaign.
Speaking after the game, the Nigerian forward expressed his delight at the team’s performance while he also praised Antalyaspor for bringing the fight to the Rams Park.
“This is the kind of game that shows why we are Galatasaray. We always come back from every difficulty, and I’m really happy with the team’s performance”, Osimhen said post-match.
“We also have to say that the opponents gave us a great game. They gave us a hard time, but just as I said earlier, this is the reason we are Galatasaray, and we have come through. We have won the league, and now we have to celebrate.”
Soccer Victor Osimhen: What next for Super Eagles striker?
Osimhen’s latest brace has now taken his tally to 59 goals in just two seasons for Galatasaray, underlining his importance to the club and his status as one of Europe’s most prolific forwards.
However, the Nigerian striker’s future has remained uncertain in recent weeks amid growing interest from several top European clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, with the likes of Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United all monitoring his situation in Turkey.
Despite the speculation, Osimhen’s latest display, along with his celebrations with the Galatasaray supporters after the match, once again showed the strong bond between the Super Eagles forward and the club’s fans. Galatasaray have also taken a firm stance and are unwilling to let him leave easily.
Meanwhile, Osimhen will miss Galatasaray’s final league game of the season against Kasimpasa due to suspension after accumulating yellow cards. With the campaign now drawing to a close, a decision on his future is now expected ahead of the summer transfer window.
Ayomide Oguntimehin
Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Chief Editor at Soccernet.ng. He has interviewed Super Eagles stars like William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Ademola Lookman, and is known for breaking major transfer stories.
Ayomide has worked with Sports Brief, Naija News and served as Social Lead Editor at Legit.ng. He has also featured on Goal, TVC News, Sports Mole, and Milan News24. He holds a Master’s degree and is currently pursuing a PhD. Follow Ayomide on X (formerly Twitter): @ayo_oguntimehin
Read MoreAyomide Oguntimehin