Super Eagles attacker Victor Osimhen was at the double as Galatasaray defeated Rizespor 2-1 to open a seven point gap at the top of the Turkish Super Lig side after 23 games.
Osimhen was face to face with his Nigerian compatriot, Ibrahim Olawoyin who featured in his 20th league game of the season for the home team.
After a goalless first half, Osimhen found the back of the net for Galatasaray’s opener barely two minutes after the restart but it took Rizespor just seven minutes to equalise through Ali Sowe.
When it was going as if the game would end in a 1-1 draw Osimhen netted again four minutes from full time to hand the three points to Galatasaray to the disappointment of Olawoyin and his Rizespor teammates.
The game extended Galatasaray’s point haul to 63 from 23 games. They have seven points buffer over second placed Fenerbahce whom they host next Monday in a local derby.
Osimhen who has played 24 games in all competitions with 18 goals and five assists, will be relied upon to help Galatasaray stage a comeback at home on Thursday when they face AZ Alkmaar with a 4-1 deficit to overcome. Osimhen was suspended in the first leg which was played in Holland.
Meanwhile, former Nigeria international John Mikel Obi has implored his former employers, Chelsea, to break the bank for Osimhen.
In the latest episode of his Obi One Podcast, Mikel Obi dismissed the idea that Alvaro Morata’s struggles at Chelsea might deter Osimhen from joining the club, expressing confidence that the Nigerian striker is smart enough to recognize what’s best for his career.
“It didn’t go well for Alvaro Morata at the club but I’m sure Victor is a smart guy, he knows what’s good for him,” Mikel said. “Chelsea has always been his club, he has come out openly and said that it was his childhood dream growing up to play for Chelsea.”
“His idol is Didier Drogba, the way he played, they played in the same position. He has made it pretty clear that this is the club he wants to come to. Unfortunately we didn’t get it done in the summer but you never know. I don’t think the door is shut completely, you never know, let’s wait and see in the summer,” he added.
While Chelsea’s striker search will continue in the summer, Osimhen’s immediate focus is on helping Galatasaray win the Turkish league and staging a remarkable comeback in the Europa League against AZ Alkmaar after missing the first leg through suspension as the Dutch side pummelled Galatasaray 4-1.
