Victor Osimhen scored his eighth goal in the Turkish Super Lig tonight as well as provided an assist for Galatasaray to trounce Kayserispor 4-0 to consolidate top spot.
Osimhen hit target from the penalty spot in the 26th minute to make it 2-0.He then assisted for his team’s third goal on the hour.
Galatasaray are six points clear of second-placed Fenerbache with 49 points from 20 matches.
Victor Osimhen’s reputation as a feared name in Italian football is something that has earned him respect from defenders that were rated as the best in their time, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Osimhen spent four seasons at Napoli scoring a total of 76 goals with 18 assists in 133 games. He finished as top scorer when he powered Napoli to the league title three years ago.
His exit from the club was controversial bringing about a break down in his relationship with the club and the fan base. He however made his mark on opposition defenders including Giorgio Chiellini.
A reporter asked Chiellini if he would have liked to play up against Osimhen on the field.
“Right now, I couldn’t cope,” he replied, smiling.
“But I would love to mark him for 45 minutes. I was unlucky to face him once late in my career when my physical qualities were limited, and I had to rely more on the mental aspect. He’s a strong player, he attacks the space and has natural hunger within that you don’t see in many players”, he stated.
Turkish giants Galatasaray will be chasing a historic milestone when they visit Manchester City for their Matchday 8 fixture tomorrow at the Etihad Stadium—aiming to become the first Turkish club to reach 250 goals in UEFA Champions League history.
Both sides will be fighting for three crucial points to bolster their position in the revamped 36-team league phase. Manchester City currently sit 11th with 13 points from seven matches, while Galatasaray occupy 17th place with the same number of games played.
Under the new Champions League format, teams finishing in the top eight automatically qualify for the Round of 16, while those placing ninth to 24th must compete in a two-legged knockout playoff. Sides finishing 25th or lower face elimination without dropping into the Europa League—making tomorrow’s clash vital for both teams.
Manchester City’s only previous UEFA competition encounter with a Turkish club came against Fenerbahce in the first round of the 1968/69 European Cup, with the Istanbul side winning 2-1 on aggregate. Meanwhile, Galatasaray carry an impressive unbeaten record against English opposition in their last four UEFA matches, with three wins and a draw.
Needing just two goals to reach the 250-goal milestone, tomorrow’s match presents an intriguing opportunity for Galatasaray’s talismanic Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen. The danger man for Okan Buruk’s side recently registered his 50th goal for the club during the weekend’s 3-1 league victory over Fatih Karagumruk and has already netted six times in this Champions League campaign.
Galatasaray will be strengthened by two former Manchester City stalwarts. Midfielder İlkay Gündoğan, who scored 65 goals in 358 appearances for City and captained the club to their sole Champions League triumph in 2022/23, will face his former employers. Just as well as midfielder Leroy Sané also played under Pep Guardiola at City, scoring 39 times in 135 matches.
UCL FIXTURES
Ajax vs Olympiakos
Arsenal vs. Kairat
Athletic vs. Sporting
Atletico vs Bodø / Glimt
Barcelona vs. Copenhagen
Leverkusen vs. Villarreal
Benfica vs. Real Madrid
Dortmund vs. Inter
Brugge vs. Marseille
Frankfurt vs. Tottenham
Liverpool vs. Qarabağ
Man City vs. Galatasaray
Monaco vs. Juventus
Napoli vs. Chelsea
PSV vs. Bayern
Pafos vs. Slavia Prague
PSG vs. Newcastle
Saint-Gilloise vs. Atalanta
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has expressed his admiration for Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen was in action against Simeone’s side in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night. The keenly contested encounter ended in a 1-1 draw. Though the Nigerian striker failed to get on the score sheet, he still earned Simeone’s respect. “Osimhen is very strong; he has always been like that in the air physically. He is very fast and very important for his team, so he is a very good footballer,” Simeone was quoted by Esto Es Atleti.
The 27-year-old has scored six times in five outings in the Champions League this season. He has contributed six more goals in 12 league appearances.
Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has stirred more controversy by suggesting that the spat involving Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman broke team chemistry, which in the end cost Nigeria the 2025 AFCON.
“Let’s look at the toxicity that might have caused us (Nigeria) the AFCON title,” Oliseh said on his YouTube channel. “We are confusing talent with license. Victor Osimhen is world-class but talent is not license to destroy team chemistry.
“Look at the evidence. Since that public outburst against Ademola Lookman, one of our brightest lights, Lookman became a shadow of himself and we lost the bite.
“When you publicly diminish your teammates, you break their spirit. You destroy the very confidence a team needs to survive a semifinal. Against a team as tactically sharp as Morocco, we needed our best players at a hundred percent.
“Statistically, Ademola Lookman was the most dangerous player in the tournament, until that public verbal abuse broke his focus. You can’t expect a playmaker to perform a miracle on the pitch when he has been demoralised by his own teammate.
“The conflict did its damage. We didn’t just lose a game, we lost the psychological edge needed to win.”
He continued: “What is worse, and frankly, what is most dangerous for our football is the fan culture that now tolerates this.
“Scoring goals for Nigeria doesn’t give you a license to disrespect certified legends like Finidi George or Victor Ikpeba,
“It doesn’t give you the right to disrespect your coaches or teammates.
“If we don’t fix the discipline and the administration, there won’t be a Super Eagles left to support.”
Super Eagles are set to face Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals, with team assistant captain Victor Osimhen predicting a tough match.
Osimhen, who will lead the team in Wilfred Ndidi’s absence, in an interview with CBS Sports Golazo, acknowledged the challenge posed by the Atlas Lions, who will be buoyed by the support of their home crowd.
However, the Galatasaray striker, ahead of their Wednesday night’s match, expressed confidence that the Super Eagles have the talent and determination to overcome the hosts and secure a place in the final.
He said, “They have a very good squad, talented players, but I think we are one of the most feared teams in this tournament. Considering the kind of talents we have in the squad. I think there is no pressure in the camp. We don’t even talk about the Morocco team in the camp; we just take one game as they come.
“We just played a very big nation, Algeria, and we just displayed something that the whole world sees that these guys are really up for the trophy. But of course it’s not going to be easy because the Moroccans are playing in front of their crowd, which is an advantage for them.
“I think many of us here in the Super Eagles have played in Stadiums where there is an 80- 90 capacity. So for me, personally, there is absolutely no pressure. I just focus on my team, and when the day of the match comes, we just give everything and hope for the win. It’s not going to be easy, but I think we’ve got a chance.”
Galatasaray attacker, Victor Osimhen is set to captain the Super Eagles when they face hosts Morocco in the semi-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations today in Rabat.
The decision follows the suspension of regular captain Wilfred Ndidi, who is ruled out after accumulating bookings during the tournament. Ndidi received yellow cards in Nigeria’s Round of 16 match against Mozambique and the quarter-final win over Algeria.
With the Besiktas midfielder unavailable, Osimhen will assume leadership duties for the high-profile fixture. The Galatasaray striker has previously worn the armband, having captained Nigeria in their final group-stage match against Uganda.
Osimhen was officially named vice-captain on the eve of the tournament, reflecting his growing influence within the squad as Nigeria continue their push for a fourth AFCON title.
Meanwhile, coach Eric Chelle has expressed disappointment over the absence of captain Wilfred Ndidi.
Ndidi will miss today’s encounter after accumulating yellow cards during the knockout stage of the tournament. The midfielder was booked for time-wasting in Nigeria’s quarter-final victory over Algeria, a caution that ruled him out of the last-four fixture having also received a caution in the Round of 16 win over Mozambique.
Speaking to reporters in Rabat on yesterday, Chelle admitted that Ndidi’s absence would be keenly felt within the squad.
“I am disappointed that our captain will not participate in tomorrow’s match, as his influence on the team is substantial,” the former Mali international said.
Ndidi has been instrumental for Nigeria throughout the competition, providing leadership, balance, and defensive solidity as the Super Eagles chase a place in the final.
Two goals against the Atlas Lions on Wednesday will put Victor James Osimhen at par with Nigeria’s revered ‘Goalsfather’ Rashidi Yekini in the number of goals scored for the Nigeria national team at senior level.
The Galatasaray of Turkey forward has 35 goals in 51 matches, while ‘Goalsfather’ netted 37 times in his 58 matches for country.
At just 27 years of age and at the peak of his powers, Osimhen is easily tipped to score many more goals for Nigeria, effectively breaking the record set by the gangling poacher of blessed memory. As at the time Yekini passed on 4th May 2012, Osimhen’s name was yet to come into reckoning at international level.
He rang his bell to the universal audience in 2015, when he emerged top scorer (with 10 goals) and second most valuable player of the FIFA U17 World Cup tournament that Nigeria won in Chile that year.
History beckons on the former SSC Napoli forward on Wednesday night, as the 90 minutes battle, for which he will have Alex Iwobi, Akor Adams and Ademola Lookman providing valuable support, offer him the opportunity to equal the great man’s tally.
Iwobi, who has been extraordinary at this AFCON, is set to win his 96th cap for country, taking him closer to the century-mark of former captain Joseph Yobo, and former goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who garnered 101. Ahmed Musa remains the man-with-the-record at 111 caps.
After coming under heavy criticism for his on-pitch outburst towards teammate Ademola Lookman, Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has responded with clarity, shifting attention away from controversy and firmly back to the team’s collective ambition following Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over Algeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, the Napoli forward addressed the growing debate around his goal-scoring exploits and his place in Nigeria’s football history, stressing that individual milestones are of little importance compared to winning major honours with the national team.
“It doesn’t matter if I equal or surpass Rasheed Yekini’s record,” Osimhen said. “For me, Mr Yekini is the greatest striker Nigeria has ever produced. I just want to win something important for my country.”
Osimhen’s comments reflected humility and deep respect for one of Nigeria’s most iconic football figures, even as his own numbers continue to draw comparisons. The 26-year-old has now made 51 appearances for the Super Eagles, scoring 35 goals and providing 14 assists. By contrast, the late Rasheed Yekini finished his international career with 37 goals in 62 games, a record that has stood for decades.
Rather than embracing the spotlight on statistics, Osimhen reiterated his desire to be judged by team success, making it clear that lifting a major trophy with Nigeria remains his overriding goal.
On the pitch, Nigeria delivered a composed and convincing performance against Algeria, securing a 2-0 win to book a place in the semifinals of AFCON 2025. The victory sets up a highly anticipated clash with host nation Morocco, as the Super Eagles continue their pursuit of continental glory.
With pressure mounting and expectations rising, Osimhen’s words and performances underline his growing leadership within the squad, driven not by personal accolades but by a determination to see Nigeria succeed on the biggest stage.
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen was named Man of the Match in a 2025 AFCON quarterfinal against Algeria in Marrakech tonight.
The 27-year-old striker scored a goal and provided an assist for the Super Eagles to fly past Algeria 2-0 and march into the semifinal of the AFCON against hosts Morocco.He has now fired four goals thus far in Morocco, just a goal shy of leading scorer Brahim Diaz of Morocco.
He is the fourth Nigerian player to bag the official Man of the Match prize after Semi Ajayi (vs Tanzania), Ademola Lookman (vs Tunisia, vs Mozambique) and Raphael Onyedika (vs Uganda).
Osimhen, is edging closer to breaking late Rashidi Yekini’s record as Nigeria’s all-time top scorer.This comes after the Galatasaray star scored a goal in Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over Algeria in the quarter-final at the ongoing AFCON, in Morocco on Saturday evening.
Entering the match with 34 international goals, Osimhen added to his tally during the match against the Desert Foxes, bringing his total to 35 goals, just two shy of Yekini’s record of 37.