Pushes for Lookman, Onyedika reunion at Galatasaray
Super Eagles attacker, Victor Osimhen believes Galatasaray’s hard-fought Champions League draw against Atletico Madrid has strengthened the team’s belief as they prepare for even tougher European nights ahead against Manchester City at the Etihad next week.
The Turkish giants showed character after going behind early, matching Diego Simeone’s battle-hardened side in intensity and quality across the contest. For Osimhen, the result was less about the scoreline and more about the statement Galatasaray made against elite opposition.
The Super Eagles striker stressed that the encounter underlined his side’s ability to compete at the highest level, noting that Galatasaray created enough chances to tilt the game in their favour. He described the clash as evenly balanced and a confidence booster for the squad’s Champions League ambitions.
Looking ahead to a looming showdown with Manchester City next week in Manchester, Osimhen urged calm and focus, insisting that the team must first take care of domestic responsibilities before shifting attention to Europe’s reigning powerhouse.
While acknowledging City’s quality, he expressed confidence that Galatasaray can rise to the occasion if they reproduce the hunger and togetherness shown against Atletico. Meanwhile, Osimhen has openly admitted that he would welcome the arrival of fellow Super Eagles teammates, Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika at Galatasaray, highlighting his growing influence within the club.
The striker revealed that he has shared his positive experiences in Istanbul with Lookman, painting a picture of a club driven by passion, ambition and a deeply committed fanbase.
Osimhen believes their presence would further strengthen Galatasaray’s squad and elevate its profile on the European stage.
While acknowledging that transfer decisions ultimately rest with the players, Osimhen maintained that Galatasaray represents an ideal environment for Nigerian talents seeking both competitiveness and a sense of belonging. He described the potential signings as a win for the club, supporters and dressing room alike.
Victor Osimhen has praised Rashid Yekini, saying the late striker is still Nigeria’s greatest of all time, even as he continues to make history with the Super Eagles.
The Galatasaray forward helped Nigeria beat Algeria 2–0 in the quarter-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations at the Marrakech Stadium, scoring one goal and providing an assist.
Osimhen’s performance took him closer to Yekini’s long-standing goal record for the three-time African champions, but he played down talk of chasing the record.
Speaking to the media after receiving the Man of the Match award, he stated that breaking records would not diminish Yekini’s legacy as Nigeria’s greatest striker of all time.
“No, not at all,” he said when asked if chasing records puts pressure on him. “I’ve said it countless times, whether I equal or surpass the record doesn’t matter. The late Yekini will always be the best striker the Super Eagles have ever had.
“I’ve also been inspired by players like Odion Ighalo to give my best for the team. That doesn’t take anything away from Yekini’s legacy.
“I’m just doing my best, and it’s amazing to be part of the Super Eagles’ history. My goal is also to win something important for my country, and with the support of my teammates, I’m on the right path.”
Despite his heroics against the North Africans, the former African Player of the Year insists the credit belongs to the whole team, acknowledging his teammates’ key contributions to the victory.
“First and foremost, I want to congratulate the whole team for their performance against a strong Algerian side with quality players,” he continued. “I just try to do my job, fight for the team, score goals, and provide assists and I’m happy both worked out for me on (Saturday).
“But I don’t want to take the credit alone; the entire team deserves the praise. So, I congratulate everyone for the win.”
Unlike the 2023 AFCON, where he scored just once as the Super Eagles finished as runners-up, Osimhen has already netted four goals in five matches this tournament.
When asked what he has done differently this time, he added: “As a player, I think I have grown a lot because I always reflect on the mistakes I’ve made and look for ways to improve.
“Now, I feel much more confident in the way I play, thanks to the support of my teammates. For me, it’s not just about goals or assists; it’s about winning something with this squad.
“I believe we’re on the right path, but it won’t be easy. From the last AFCON to this one, I’ve improved a lot both as a player and as a person.”
Nigeria will take on Morocco in their semi-final clash on Wednesday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. There, Osimhen will be looking to add to his goal tally as he continues his push for the Golden Boot.
Sir: Victor Osimhen is not just Nigeria’s striker. He is Nigeria’s first defender; Nigeria’s first presser. Nigeria’s emergency midfielder when the shape collapses. He tracks back when others jog. He presses centre-backs built like trucks. He harasses goalkeepers into mistakes. He runs channels that are never rewarded with passes. He fights for second balls no highlight reel will ever celebrate. For these few years, Osimhen has done the work of defenders, midfielders and strikers combined and still gets reduced to a villain because he dared to shout.
Let us also talk about sacrifice. Real sacrifice, not online patriotism. Osimhen has played through pain more times than Nigerians care to remember. He wore a protective mask not as fashion, but because his face was literally broken in service of club and country. He rushed back from injuries. He showed up for qualifiers others quietly missed. He chose Nigeria again and again despite chaos, politics, and dysfunction. Yet the moment frustration leaked into his body language, Nigerians behaved as though he had committed treason.
And let me be clear, I am a fan. And if we are being honest, being a fan does not mean loving only the goals, the highlights, and the celebrations. Being a fan means taking the mess too. It means standing with your player on the good days and the uncomfortable ones. So to those who call themselves Osimhen fans and were part of Monday’s shame, a simple question must be asked, where are you now? Where are the loud hype merchants who sing his praises when he scores but disappear the moment he shows fire? What kind of fandom evaporates at the first sign of imperfection?
It is therefore unsurprising that reports have begun to circulate suggesting Osimhen is considering walking away from the national team. Whether true or exaggerated, pause and ask yourself this: after what Nigerians showed him on Monday, what kind of non-human would not at least consider it? At what point does emotional abuse stop being called “criticism”? At what point does loyalty become self-harm? We demand unconditional commitment from players, yet treat them as disposable the moment they fail our emotional comfort test.
What makes this hypocrisy even more insulting is how selective we are. In Europe, we worship players with “ego.” We call them monsters. Mentality kings. Serial winners. Diego Costa was chaotic. Zlatan was arrogant. Cristiano Ronaldo sulks, gestures, demands, fumes. Luis Suárez bites and still gets defended. These players are excused because their hunger is seen as greatness. But when Osimhen shows the same obsession, Nigerians suddenly discover moral standards they do not apply anywhere else.
Monday also exposed something Nigerians refuse to confront; we are uncomfortable with players who demand more from us and from their teammates. Osimhen did not react because Nigeria was losing. He reacted because Nigeria could be better. That is not indiscipline; that is expectation. Serious teams are not built on silence. They are built on standards, friction, and accountability.
And context matters. This Super Eagles team is still evolving. Chemistry does not fall from the sky. Voices will be raised. Emotions will spill. That is football at the highest level. Pretending otherwise is dishonest. Yet Nigerians froze one moment and used it to construct an entire personality profile, complete with insults, boos, and character assassination.
What happened on Monday was not “constructive criticism.” It was bullying. Booing your own player in the middle of a tournament is not love, not support, not standards, it is self-sabotage.
Nigerians demand loyalty from players but offer none in return. Today you are king; tomorrow you are disposable. We have done this before. We will do it again. Then we will rewrite history and pretend we were always supportive.
Victor Osimhen is not perfect. He never claimed to be. But perfection has never been the standard we apply to ourselves, so it is dishonest to demand it from him. Nigerians complain endlessly about players lacking elite mentality, yet panic the moment one behaves like an elite competitor. We want winners, but only the obedient, quiet, apologetic kind.
Victor Osimhen did not fail Nigeria on Monday. Nigeria failed Victor Osimhen, again. And until Nigerian fans learn that loving greatness means enduring its rough edges, we will keep asking the same tired question in the future: “Why don’t our stars love us anymore?”
Maybe the answer has never been far away. Maybe it has always been us.
Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has suggested that midfielder Raphael Onyedika is the most underrated player representing Nigeria in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Morocco. Osimhen lauded Onyedika’s contributions to Eric Chelle’s side, pointing out that the Club Brugge star has not received the recognition he deserves, especially after scoring two goals in the recent match against Uganda.“
Ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations clash against Nigeria, Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi admitted that he has laid out a strategy to contain the Super Eagles’ attacking threats, including Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon.
Heading into Saturday’s clash at the Fez Stadium, the Eagles of Carthage lead Group C, thanks to a superior goal difference over Nigeria, who defeated Tanzania 2-1 in their tournament opener.
When asked whether he had prepared a plan or strategy to deal with Osimhen, Lookman, Moses and other Nigerian forwards, Trabelsi stressed that Tunisia would focus on collective discipline and organisation rather than targeting individual players.
Speaking at Friday’s press conference, he explained: “We must be focused. We need to maintain a high level of concentration against any opponent and any type of player in any team.
“We are a team known for a collective approach at all levels, both defensively and offensively. We will deal with all the players, and all the stars present in the Africa Cup of Nations with the same discipline.
“Nothing will be exceptional for any player but there will be collective defensive and offensive organisation. The national team’s performance means some important players will be less effective.”
Nigeria and Tunisia have faced each other six times at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, with the Super Eagles winning three, Tunisia one and two matches ending in draws.
Ahead of their opening Group C match at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, the Super Eagles’ duo of Victor Osimhen and Alex Iwobi, are already spoiling for war, adding the on-going continental tournament in Morocco offers the team to make amend for their setback in the campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Last month, the Super Eagles missed the Africa’s sole ticket to next March Intercontinental Play-Offs following a penalty shootout loss to Congo DR in Morocco.
Speaking ahead of this evening’s encounter against Tanzania at the Complexe Sportif de Fès ,Osimhen made it clear that while the memory of recent failures still hurts, the players are focused and the training has been very intense. He said the team wants to send a strong message to everyone that they still have what it takes to win.
“We really understand their frustration,” Osimhen said, acknowledging the heartbreak suffered by supporters. “Now we have the opportunity to win back the hearts of our fans. This AFCON is a chance to rewrite our wrongs.”
Other key players shared this same energy with Iwobi pointing out that players are only remembered for the trophies they win, and the squad is working hard to achieve something special for the fans. Defensive players Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey also promised to give everything they have to make the country proud, while striker Cyriel Dessers expressed his joy at finally getting the chance to represent Nigeria in a major tournament.
The team will be led by new captain Wilfred Ndidi, who has been talking to both the young and old players to make sure everyone is on the same page and ready to correct past mistakes.
Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen will again be the nightmare of opposing defenders at the 2025 AFCON, according to fellow Super Eagles star Frank Onyeka.
This will be Osimhen’s second AFCON after his tournament debut a year ago in Cote d’Ivoire, where he scored a goal.
“He’s such an amazing player,” Onyeka told BBC.
“He’s a guy that wants to fight for every single ball. For me, T think the defenders are scared of him.
“Victor is on another level.”
Osimhen scored six goals in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and added two more in the Playoffs in Morocco.
Ilenikhena wanted in Germany
AS Monaco youngster George Ilenikhena, who has been watched by Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, could soon be on way of the French Ligue 1 after he was linked with Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga.
The 19-year-old centre-forward, who is valued at around 18 million euros, has not enjoyed regular game time since his arrival last summer from Belgian club Antwerp.
This partly due to an injury layoff and return to action of more experienced players like Folarin Balogun.
L’Equipe has reported that Ilenikhena is likely to move to Germany with Frankfurt his destination.
Palace boss hails Chrisantus Uche fantastic goal
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has saluted Chrisantus Uche after he fired an opening goal against KuPS in a UEFA Conference League clash.
The Super Eagles forward put the home team in front as early as the fifth minute with a stunning goal with the outside of the foot from the edge of the box.
The Palace boss said Uche scored “a fantastic goal” and he was pleased with the performance of the team.
It was Uche’s first goal at Selhurst Park and he has now scored in back-to-back Conference League games.
The 2-2 draw with Finnish club KuPS has qualified the Premier League for the Conference League Playoffs in February.
Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun, Eno, MTN, BET9JA,GTI, NDDC in the mix
The Super Eagles trio of Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray , Ademola Lookman of Atalanta and Calvin Bassey of Fulham lead nominations for the 12th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards.
The organizers of the awards announced this at a media gathering at the Johnwood Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday, 16 December.
Speaking at the event organized to celebrate partners, members of the College of Voters, and journalists, Dr. Shina Philips, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, reaffirmed organizers’ confidence in the voting process coordinated by SIAO Partners, the accounting firm that has been at the helm of the collation and auditing of the results since 2014.
“ We would like to thank SIAO Partners and express our confidence in the results that will be presented at this gathering. We have worked with SIAO Partners for over 11 years, and during this period, they have consistently demonstrated professionalism and commitment to this national project, ” Dr Philips said.
Also speaking at the event, Afolabi Lawal, Senior Manager at SIAO Partners, stated that the accounting firm adhered to all due process while collating and auditing the results.
While announcing the names of nominees, Dr. Ademola Olajire, the NFF Director of Communication, stated that the Federation continues to support the Nigeria Pitch Awards because the award process is credible and transparent.
In the King of the Pitch category, Lookman, the 2024-winner of the award, will face competition from Bassey and Osimhen.
The Queen of the Pitch Award will be a stiff battle between Chiamaka Nnadozie of Brighton & Hove Albion Women FC, Esther Okoronkwo of AFC Toronto, and Rasheedat Ajibade of PSG Feminine.
Super Eagles new defensive sensation, Benjamin Frederick (Dender E.H.), will hope to starve up competition from Bassey and Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest) for the Defender of the Year award.
The Midfielder of the Year category will be a fierce competition between Alex Iwobi (Fulham ), Frank Onyeka (Brentford), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge)and Wilfred Ndidi (Beşiktaş).
In their second nominations, Lookman and Osimhen will face competition from Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United) for the Rashidi Yekini Award for the Best Striker of the Year.
The award for the Football Friendly Governor of the Year will be a straight contest between Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State.
Dr. Philips also announced that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will be honoured with the Special Achievement in Sports Award at the 12th Award Ceremony. This is in recognition of the Commission’s invaluable contributions to the growth of sports through its organization of the Niger Delta Games.
ALL THE NOMINEES:
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Kayode Bankole Remo Stars & TS Galaxy F.C.
Maduka Okoye Udinese Calcio
Stanley Nwabali Chippa United F.C.
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
Benjamin Frederick F.C.V. Dender E.H.
Calvin Bassey Fulham F.C.
Ola Aina Nottingham Forest F.C.
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
Alex Iwobi Fulham F.C.
Frank Onyeka Brentford F.C.
Raphael Onyedika Club Brugge
Wilfred Ndidi Beşiktaş J.K.
RASHIDI YEKINI AWARD FOR THE BEST STRIKER OF THE YEAR
Ademola Lookman Atalanta BC
Anas Yusuf Nasarawa United
Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Remo Stars F.C
Rivers United F.C
Super Falcons
COACH OF THE YEAR
Daniel Ogunmodede Remo Stars F.C
Finidi George Rivers United F.C
Justine Madugu Super Falcons
SAM OKWARAJI AWARD
Kunle Soname Bet9ja
Patrick Olusegun Odegbami Nigerian Ex-International
Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K
STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Delta State
Kwara State
Lagos State
FOOTBALL PITCH OF THE YEAR
Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium , Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
Galatasaray in-form striker Victor Osimhen added to his Super Lig tally, yesterday, with a 56th-minute goal, the third in Gala’s 4-1 victory over Antalyaspor.
Galatasaray took a 1-0 lead in the 7th minute. Following a pass from Yunus Akgün, Sane entered the penalty area, and his shot from the right found the back of the net, beating goalkeeper Abdullah Yiğiter: 0-1
In the 11th minute, Galatasaray doubled its lead. Barış Alper Yılmaz, receiving the ball on the left wing, passed to Sallai just outside the penalty area, whose shot beat goalkeeper Yiğiter on his right and found the back of the net: 0-2
In the 56th minute, Galatasaray extended its lead to three. In a fast-paced Galatasaray attack, Yunus Akgün’s long pass from his own half found Osimhen on the left wing, who quickly entered the penalty area and sent the ball into the net to the left of goalkeeper Abdullah Yiğiter: 0-3
Meanwhile, Galatasaray commentator Uğur Karakullukçu has provided the latest update on Galatasaray’s interest in Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman.
According to Karakullukçu, Galatasaray are reportedly shifting their transfer focus towards Salah ahead of Lookman.
Both Salah and Lookman have been linked with a move to the Turkish Super Lig champions.
Lookman failed to leave Atalanta last summer and has just been reintegrated in the squad, while Salah had issues with Liverpool and was left out of the side that defeated Inter Milan in the Champions League.
Two years ago when Victor Osimhen conquered the tough Italian Serie A by helping Napoli win the Scudetto for the first time since the Diego Maradona era of the 1990s, and was deservedly crowned The Nation’s Sportsman of the Year, many would have thought it would be challenging for him to arrive at such an enviable height two years later.
Of course, Year 2023 was indeed Osimhen’s. Apart from becoming the all-time highest-scoring African player in Serie A with 47 goals (overtaking George Weah’s record of 46 goals), he also became the first African to be crowned the top scorer in the Italian league with a remarkable 26 goals (31 in all competitions) that helped Napoli land their first title in 33 years.
With Nigeria, the former FIFA U-17 Wold Cup winner was equally on fire with 10 remarkable goals that helped Super Eagles’ qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He ultimately walked away with the African Footballer of the Year, aside other individual accolades that included being ranked the 8th Best Player in the 2023 Ballon d’Or list – the first Nigerian ever to make the top ten in the annual influential awards.
The following season, Osimhen became the subject of transfer interests from top European sides, amongst them Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, as well as Barcelona and Real Madrid. He would soon be embroiled in a contract renewal dispute with Napoli which dragged on like a festering sore, until he was eventually offered an extension until 2026, but with a new release clause set at a staggering €130 million.
Despite the off-field distractions and spate of injuries, he was among the goals for Napoli with an impressive 17 goals across 32 matches in all competitions. Likewise, he was the ‘star boy’ as Nigeria romped to a ‘golden’ Silver at the delayed 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire where the Super Eagles were edged 2-1 in the final by the hosts, the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.
In the summer, things practically fell apart between Osimhen and Napoli after the club, with all intents and purposes, rejected offers from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli as well as Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. Then there was a change of guard at Napoli with the arrival of Antonio Conte who not only excluded Osimhen from Napoli’s Serie A squad for the season, but stripped him of his shirt number and handed it to new signing Romelu Lukaku.
It was a typical hero to zero tale and like a weather-beaten dog, Osimhen would soon be farmed away on a season-long loan to Galatasaray in what had gone down in history as one of the most acrimonious transfer deals in European football.
The striker, in his typical style, practically turned the lemon threw at him by Napoli to lemonade on arrival in Turkey as he opened his goal scoring for Galatasaray when he netted a brace on his debut in the first half of a 3–3 draw with Kasımpaşa.
Without a doubt, Osimhen’s arrival in Turkey as a loanee from Napoli has been a fascinating and transformative period much to the delight of his admirers but to the embarrassment of those who felt his career was nigh to the end.
He has not only adapted seamlessly to a new league but has also re-established himself as one of Europe’s most prolific and dominant centre-forwards, culminating in a spectacular domestic campaign.
His goal-scoring prowess was instrumental to Galatasaray securing a domestic double – winning the Süper Lig and the Türkiye Kupasi (Turkish Cup) – and saw him finish as the league’s top scorer.
A fact well-stressed by influential online directory, Transfermarket: “His 37 goals in 41 appearances across all club competitions mark one of the most prolific seasons of his professional career. In the Süper Lig, his 26 goals saw him convincingly claim the Golden Boot, showcasing his ability to lead the line and consistently convert chances in a high-pressure title race.
Crucially, he also contributed seven assists, highlighting a growing willingness and capability to link up play and facilitate attacks for his teammates.
“His contribution to the domestic cup run was equally vital, including scoring five goals in just four cup matches, proving he maintained his high standards across all domestic competitions and was key to securing the domestic double.”
To many, Osimhen’s dominance in the Turkish top-flight reaffirmed his credentials as a world-class ‘number nine’ and he also shone like the neon light in the dark in Gala’s campaign on the continent as he netted six goals in seven appearances in their bold but futile bid for the UEFA Europa League title.
His efforts were rewarded with a four -year contract as the yellow and gold broke the bank to complete his transfer from Napoli with a net fee of €75 million that made Osimhen the highest transfer fee in Turkish football history.
He would make history yet again early November when he became the first foreigner, and the second overall Galatasaray player (after Burak Yılmaz) to score a hat-trick in the Champions League after netting three goals against Ajax in a 3–0 away victory. He overtook Obafemi Martins as Nigeria’s all-time top scorer in European competitions and also makes him the second Nigerian player (after Yakubu) to have scored a hat-trick in the Champions League.
In spite of that, Osimhen’s catalogue of goals in the year under review was not limited to Galatasaray. He totally became the tour de force for the Super Eagles in several crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying and FIFA World Cup qualifying matches during the 2024/2025 calendar.
For instance in March, he became the second highest goal scorer for the Super Eagles after scoring a brace in a 2–0 away victory over Rwanda in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier and also netted a remarkable hat-trick against Benin in Nigeria’s 4–0 victory in October which sealed the Super Eagles’ place in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers playoffs.
He will also be remembered for the yeoman’s performance against Gabon at the CAF Playoffs in November when he grabbed a brace in an emphatic 4-1, which took his tally to an impressive eight goals in seven matches between March and November 2025.
Yet, Nigeria’s non-qualification for next year’s FIFA World Cup is ironically linked to the ‘Osimhen factor’ simply because whenever he was unavailable, the Super Eagles were such a mess especially in that better forgotten second-half collapse against Democratic Republic of Congo in the playoffs in Morocco. Others won’t also forget his petulance with coach Finidi George which cost the Super Eagles precious points before Franco-Malian coach Eric Sekou Chelle came on board.
While the national team had its own challenges – both on-and off the field, he remained at his prolific best so much so that fans on the streets of Lagos to Lokoja; from Abuja to Aba; from Port Harcourt to Potiskum and from Kano to Kalabari shared the similar sentiment: “there is no Super Eagles without Osimhen and without Osimhen, there is no Super Eagles.”
This December 29th, Osimhen who this week was crowned as the Athlete of the Year in Turkey by GQ Türkiye, will be 27. But the sentiments echoed by England legend Frank Lampard, after the Nigerian ace striker scored his very first goal in the UEFA Champions League against Chelsea six years ago on 2nd October 2019, still ring true: “He is fast; he has everything. His story is great where he has come from, where he is now and it looks like a fantastic career ahead of him.”
