Victor Osimhen extends Nigeria’s Champions League record to almost twice nearest rivals

Victor Osimhen has strengthened his position as Nigeria’s leading scorer in the Champions League after scoring Galatasaray’s fourth goal in their 4-2 league-phase victory over Lille on Wednesday.

The striker’s effort took his total in the competition to 17 goals, giving him an eight-goal advantage over Nigeria’s next-highest scorers, Ademola Lookman and Obafemi Martins, who are level on nine.

The match was Osimhen’s return to face his former club, and Soccernet had identified the fixture as an opportunity for him to score his first European goal of the season. His goal secured a series of statistical milestones, according to Afrik-Foot.

It was Osimhen’s 14th goal in all European competitions for Galatasaray. That moved him beyond Milan Baros, who scored 12, and made Osimhen the Turkish club’s record foreign scorer in European competition.

He has now scored eight times for Galatasaray in the Champions League. Only two players have found the net more often for the club in the competition: Hakan Sukur, with 13 goals, and Burak Yilmaz, with 10, Afrik-Foot reported.

Osimhen’s overall total of 17 Champions League goals is also a record for a Nigerian player. Lookman and Martins share second place with nine each.

The Galatasaray forward has additionally become the first Nigerian to score in the Champions League for three different clubs.

Closing in on Galatasaray’s record

The size of Osimhen’s lead gives the Nigerian record particular significance. Any compatriot attempting to match his 17 goals would need to score eight times before even drawing level, while Osimhen will have further opportunities to increase his total.

The figures leave him within reach of Galatasaray’s own Champions League scoring records. Two more goals would take him to 10 and level him with Yilmaz, while five more would bring him alongside Sukur on 13.

That makes the club’s record list Osimhen’s next statistical target, although his position as Nigeria’s leading scorer in the competition is already secure.

His numbers also strengthen the argument about where he ranks among Nigeria’s greatest forwards. Statistics alone cannot decide that debate, but few Nigerian players have scored so consistently in the Champions League.

Totals reported in match coverage can vary by one or two goals between different outlets. The figures in this report are those provided by Afrik-Foot.

Galatasaray’s next Champions League fixture will determine how soon Osimhen has the chance to reach another milestone.