By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria international Victor Osimhen was the hero in Istanbul on Wednesday night as Galatasaray stunned Premier League champions Liverpool with a 1–0 victory in the UEFA Champions League.
The Nigerian striker converted a 16th-minute penalty to hand the Turkish giants all three points in front of a packed Nef Stadium crowd.
Osimhen, who was returning to the squad after a brief absence, was named Man of the Match for his decisive display.
Speaking after the game, the Super Eagles forward expressed pride in the team’s performance and his love for the club.
“Congratulations to the team; it was a very tough opponent,” Osimhen said. “Many people didn’t believe we would win, except for the people you see here.”
“I’ve been away from the team, but for me, this is the biggest team in the world. We got a big win for Galatasaray and for me,” he added.
Osimhen also praised the home fans, crediting them for his strong performance.
“The fans were the reason I came here. It’s an honour to have them support me like this. Thanks to them, I always play better. I love Galatasaray and the fans.”
The victory is a major statement for Galatasaray, who were under pressure following a heavy 5–1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in their opening group match. The win not only revives their hopes of qualification but also sends a clear message to the rest of the group.
Galatasaray’s next group-stage fixture is expected to be pivotal as they push for a place in the knockout rounds.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
