- Osimhen dazzled with an overhead kick just twelve minutes after coming on
- Argentine forward Mauro Icardi scored twice before being substituted for Osimhen in Galatasaray's win over Antalyaspor
- The Nigerian forward has contributed to six goals in five appearances this season
Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen came off the bench with a point to prove, and he did just that, scoring a wonder goal in Galatasaray’s 3-0 thrashing of Antalyaspor on matchday nine of the Süper Lig.
The atmosphere at Corendon Airlines Park also known as the Antalya Stadium was electric from the outset, as Mauro Icardi powered in the opening goal within 10 minutes of kickoff, heading home a corner from Dries Mertens.
After the halftime break, Icardi doubled Galatasaray’s lead, courtesy of a perfectly timed assist from Yunus Akgün, marking his fourth league goal of the season. But the moment of the match came after Okan Buruk introduced Osimhen in the 78th minute.
Initially, Osimhen appeared to have found the net just three minutes after entering the game, but his excitement was short-lived as the goal was disallowed following a VAR check for offside.
Despite the setback, the 25-year-old remained undeterred and continued to make his tireless runs until he found another scoring opportunity.
Just about ten minutes later, the Super Eagles forward latched onto a clever header from Roland Sallai, after a pinpoint free-kick from Hakim Ziyech, and acrobatically finished with a brilliant overhead kick.
Opta statistics have revealed Osimhen's impressive contribution to the team, stating that he leads the Turkish league in goal contributions per minute. With three goals and two assists in four league matches, Osimhen is directly involved in a goal every 47 minutes, showcasing his immense value to the squad.
Since his loan move to Galatasaray, Osimhen has quickly cemented his role as a key figure in the team’s attack. With three goals across four league matches, his efficiency in front of goal has been undeniable.
His physical strength and agility have also added a new dimension to Galatasaray’s offence. Thanks to his contributions, the team now enjoys a seven-point lead at the top of the Super Lig, sitting comfortably with 25 points after nine games.
The Turkish Super Lig champions host Besiktas in their next league game on Monday, October 28 and will face IF Elfsborg in the Europa League next Wednesday, October 23.
Super Eagles withdraw from AFCON qualifier after 12-hour airport ordeal in Libya
Previously, TheRadar reported that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has made the difficult decision to withdraw the Super Eagles from their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya.
This decision follows a distressing 12-hour ordeal at Al Abraq International Airport, where the Nigerian team was stranded with no assistance from local authorities. The situation quickly escalated into a diplomatic nightmare, leaving players and officials frustrated as they were abandoned in a strange Libya environment.
