By Wale Mustapha
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has described Galatasaray’s shock UEFA Champions League victory over Liverpool as a defining moment for the club’s European ambitions.
The Turkish Super Lig champions edged the reigning English Premier League title holders 1-0 in a fiercely contested Matchday Two fixture at Rams Park on Tuesday night.
Osimhen, making his return from an ankle injury sustained on international duty, scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot in the first half, his first for Galatasaray in the competition.
Speaking after the game, the Super Eagles star emphasized the significance of the win, especially against a team of Liverpool’s stature.
“We played against a very difficult opponent, and many people believed we wouldn’t win tonight,” Osimhen said. “But we managed to stick together, fight as a team, and got the important result.”
The 24-year-old added that the result is a testament to Galatasaray’s growing pedigree in European football and a statement to critics who underestimated the Turkish side.
The victory sees Galatasaray climb in the Group B standings and further bolsters Osimhen’s reputation as one of Europe’s top forwards.
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.
