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From Onyekuru To Osimhen: Meet 6 Nigerians Who Have Played For Galatasaray

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Victor Osimhen has completed his permanent switch from Napoli to Galatasaray, becoming the sixth Nigerian footballer to play for the club.

Osimhen spent last season on loan at the club after Napoli botched his permanent exit and helped them win the Turkish Super League and Ziraat Cup double.

He decided to continue in Turkey despite a lucrative offer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal and interest from top European clubs.

As broadcast by Galatasaray TV, he arrived in Istanbul on Wednesday evening to a crowd of supporters who had been waiting to welcome him.

His haul of 37 goals and eight assists last season endeared him to the fans, and it was a delight for them to see him sign for the club permanently.

Legit looks at other Nigerian players who have featured for the Turkish champions, as noted by Transfermarkt.

Nigerians who have played for Galatasaray

1. Oghenekaro Etebo
Former Super Eagles midfielder played for the Lions in the 2020/21 season on loan from English club Stoke City. He featured in 29 games but failed to score nor did he assist, and returned to England at the end of the season. The 29-year-old currently plays for Gençlerbirliği in the second division of Turkish football.

2. Henry Onyekuru
Onyekuru played for Galatasaray in three spells, all of which came on separate loans. He joined on loan from Everton in the 2018/19 season, after which he was sold to AS Monaco. He returned to Galatasaray in January 2020 on loan until the end of the season and had another six months from January to June 2021.

He scored 22 goals and provided 11 assists in 72 games and won the league and cup double in 2019. He recently joined Etebo at TFF First League side Gençlerbirliği.

3. Jesse Sekidika
Port Harcourt-born winger Sekidika has spent the majority of his career in Turkey. He was on Galatasaray’s books for two seasons and featured in 12 games. He went on loan at Konyaspor, OH Leuven and Eyüpspor. He currently plays for the Azerbaijani club Sabah.

4. Valentine Ozornwafor
Ozornwafor joined Galatasaray from the Nigeria Premier Football League side Enyimba in 2019 and was signed at the club for three years. He went on loan at Almeria and Sporting Charleroi before signing for the latter permanently in 2022. He currently plays for Septemvri Sofia in Bulgaria.

5. Dominic Iorfa
Iorfa was the first Nigerian to play for Galatasaray in 1991 when he signed from Queens Park Rangers, but was sold to Peterborough seven months later. In his 16-year career, he played for 22 clubs, including seven clubs in 1998. He retired from Lobi Stars in 2000.

Super Falcons star Oluwatosin Demehin signed for Galatasaray women’s team last summer, weeks after Osimhen joined on a season-long loan.

Osimhen made a promise to Galatasaray fans
Legit reported that Osimhen promised Galatasaray fans that he and his teammates would fight to bring success to the club after joining permanently. Thousands of Galatasaray fans followed his flight live and welcomed him at the Atatürk International Airport in Istanbul on Wednesday evening….ClickToReadMoreStories

 

 

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Tottenham Fight Back Twice To Rescue 2-2 Draw Against Manchester United

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Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United played out a 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday, in a match defined by late drama and set-piece brilliance.

Manchester United drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Bryan Mbeumo’s towering header, set up by Amad Diallo, put the visitors ahead.

The lead seemed comfortable at halftime, but Tottenham came alive after the break. Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha tested United’s goalkeeper Lammens with back-to-back efforts in the 54th and 56th minutes, signaling Spurs’ intent.

Destiny Udogie’s clever delivery found Mathys Tel in the 84th minute to level the score, before Wilson Odobert set up Richarlison for a 90+1 header following a late corner.

The heat continued when United snatched a point deep in stoppage time. Matthijs de Ligt rose highest to convert Bruno Fernandes’ corner at 90+6. Notably, three of the four goals came from headers, and both sides capitalized on set pieces in the dying minutes.

Discipline will be a talking point, as Spurs picked up five yellow cards compared to United’s single booking. On the other hand, United have conceded far more after halftime, while Spurs have increasingly found goals in the second half.

The draw keeps Tottenham in sixth place with 18 points, just ahead of United in eighth, both chasing European qualification.

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Ademola Lookman: Super Eagles Star Sends Cryptic Message to Atalanta After Scoring First Goal

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The Nigerian forward finally opened his account for the season in Atalanta’s 1-1 draw with AC Milan on Tuesday night, but his post-match comments and muted goal celebration have sparked speculation about his relationship with the club.

The reigning African Footballer of the Year has endured a slow start to the season after a turbulent summer.

Lookman, who reportedly tried to push for a move away from Bergamo, has struggled to replicate the explosive form that helped Atalanta qualify for the UEFA Champions League last season.

On Tuesday night, the 28-year-old reminded fans of his quality. After Milan took an early lead through Samuele Ricci in the fourth minute, Lookman responded with a fine equalizer in the 35th minute, Football Italia reports. The Nigerian forward latched onto a pass from Mario Pasalic before rifling the ball into the roof of the net, a finish that reminds every one of his best form last term.

However, despite his goal, Atalanta could not find a winner and had to settle for a draw, their seventh of the season. The result keeps the Bergamo club unbeaten, but frustrations are growing among fans and players who expected more wins from the campaign’s opening stretch.

Lookman’s situation at Atalanta has been under scrutiny since the summer transfer window.

Following interest from Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, his future in Bergamo appeared uncertain.

The Super Eagles forward eventually stayed but began the season on the bench, featuring only briefly in Atalanta’s early matches.

Since then, he has fought his way back into the starting lineup, with improved performances in recent games. But when asked after the Milan draw if he was happy to be back at Atalanta, Lookman’s answer left more questions than answers.

 

“It’s important to be available for the team, to help the team,” Lookman told DAZN Italia.

“I’ve not been able to find form yet, physically or in front of goal, but I’ll get there eventually, and this was a step forward in the right direction. Hopefully in the coming games we’ll be able to get some wins.”

Pressed further about whether the goal meant he was happy to remain at the club; his response was notably evasive.

“I think that when I’m on the pitch, the most important thing is to try to help the team win. We want to keep climbing up the table, and that’s the most important thing, to win football games.”

Lookman’s subdued tone, combined with not celebrating his goal, suggested the bond between player and club is still fragile.

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Governor Abiodun Presents Super Eagles Star With Cash Gifts

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The Super Falcons have received a cash gift of N50 million from the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun.

In a post shared on Instagram, the governor announced the reward for the team during their visit to his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Abiodun hosted the Super Falcons ahead of the second leg of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 qualifier where the team would lock horns with the Amazons of the Benin Republic.

Speaking ahead of the match, the governor said the cash gift handed to the female football team is a token of appreciation for their past performances in WAFCON.

He also encouraged them to ensure they emerge victorious in their upcoming match.

Also commending the team for bagging the tenth WAFCON title in Morocco, Governor Abiodun said it is important to note that the team’s achievement is an inspiration to young Nigerian women across the globe.

“What the Falcons represent goes far beyond football. They embody leadership, teamwork, and discipline. Through their example, millions of young women are learning that excellence knows no gender, and that with hard work and unity, they too can achieve greatness,” Abiodun said.

The governor also assured the Super Falcons of his administration effort to rehabilitate the MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta into a global standard sports and tourism hub.

According to him, the stadium when completed will feature a five-star hotel, cinema, shopping complex alongside other modern facilities.

He informed the team of the undiluted support and confidence bestowed on them by residents and indigenes of Ogun state, his government and other stakeholders in the sports industry.

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