Olatunji boosts Nigeria call-up chances with standout performance in Sparta Prague victory

Victor Olatunji is presenting a compelling argument for a call-up to the Nigerian national team following his exceptional display in Sparta Prague's 2-1 away triumph against Sigma Olomouc in the Czech Republic's top division.

The lanky forward was instrumental in securing the victory for Sparta, scoring the decisive goal in a challenging league encounter at Andruv Stadium.

Olomouc appeared poised to earn a draw after Filip Zorvan equalized Jan Kuchta's initial goal, but Olatunji, who came off the bench, delivered the final blow by scoring in the 87th minute.

After expertly controlling a precise cross from Jaroslav Zeleny, the former Slovan Liberec player evaded his defender and placed a low shot past the advancing goalkeeper, Jan Koutny, before celebrating with a pose reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo.

This win allowed Sparta Prague to extend their winning streak to six matches across all competitions, a run that began on February 2nd with a 2-0 away victory against Slovacko.

Despite being on the field for only 29 minutes, Olatunji was awarded Man of the Match according to Flashscore's ratings. He entered the match following a goal in Lars Friis’ team’s commanding cup win over Dukla Praha.

"It is not easy to play against such teams. We know Sigma, we have played against them before. We lost the first match together, but we always believe that if we perform well, we will be rewarded with a result," the 25-year-old told the club website.

Reminiscing on the goal, he continued: "It was amazing. When I saw the ball flying over me or running, I believe I can get to it. Then I just have to get it over the line.

"I had to convert the opportunity because in football you don't get that many, sometimes you only get one. When I saw the flag, of course I believed it wouldn't be offside.

"Then the referee checked it too. I was afraid because I didn't want us to lose or draw here. But in the end, it turned out that it wasn't offside."

The result serves as a morale booster and brings Sparta Prague closer to league leaders Slavia Prague, narrowing the gap to 10 points as they continue their quest to successfully defend last season’s title.

Olatunji has been the subject of discussion for a call-up to Eric Chelle’s squad, thanks to his outstanding form for the Czech giants in the 2024/25 campaign, particularly in the UEFA Champions League, where he made history.

In the 3-0 victory over RB Salzburg, he made history as the first Nigerian to both score and provide an assist on his debut in the Champions League. Nevertheless, his team fell short of progressing to the knockout rounds.

Given his skill set, the versatile forward has the potential to significantly enhance the Super Eagles' offensive capabilities as they strive to rejuvenate their chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Sparta Prague will continue their quest for the league title with a crucial match against Slavia Prague next Saturday. Regrettably, Olatunji will be sidelined due to an accumulation of yellow cards.