By Monsurah Olatunji
Victor Osimhen’s return to action was nothing short of sensational, with Galatasaray celebrating the Nigerian striker’s remarkable performance in their 2-1 victory over Rizespor.
Osimhen marked his comeback from suspension by scoring twice, ensuring the Turkish giants secured all three points in a crucial league clash on Monday night.
Galatasaray had missed their star forward in the previous week’s heavy 4-1 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, a result that left the Lions looking vulnerable.
But Osimhen’s return brought a swift change in fortunes, as he netted two brilliant headed goals to seal the win against Rizespor.
His clinical brace was pivotal, not only securing the victory but also bolstering Galatasaray’s title ambitions, further highlighting his value to the team.
Galatasaray wasted no time in recognizing Osimhen’s influence, posting on social media: “Statement game from a special man.”
With this win, the Lions have extended their lead at the top of the Super Lig table, now six points ahead of second-place Fenerbahce.
The two teams will meet next Monday in what promises to be an exciting showdown.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
