Victor Osimhen surpasses Obafemi Martins to set new Nigerian Champions League record
Victor Osimhen etched his name into history on Tuesday night as he became Nigeria’s all-time leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League, surpassing Obafemi Martins. The Super Eagles striker scored the decisive goal in Galatasaray’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Rams Park, a result that shook up Group C and reignited the Turkish champions’ European campaign.
Osimhen holds his nerve to make history
The defining moment came in the 16th minute after Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai conceded a penalty for a foul on Barıs Alper Yılmaz. Standing over the spot-kick against one of the world’s best goalkeepers, Alisson Becker, Osimhen stayed composed and dispatched his effort clinically into the corner.
It was his 10th goal in the main competition (excluding qualifiers), moving him ahead of former Inter Milan forward Obafemi Martins on Nigeria’s all-time Champions League scorers’ chart.
The former Napoli talisman, who joined Galatasaray in the summer, celebrated the goal with visible emotion, acknowledging not only the personal milestone but also the importance of bouncing back from their 5-1 thrashing at Eintracht Frankfurt on matchday one.
Galatasaray bounce back against Liverpool
Liverpool dominated possession and applied relentless pressure, but the Turkish champions held firm. Inspired defending and disciplined midfield play ensured Osimhen’s early strike was enough to secure the points.
The result gave Galatasaray a much-needed boost in their campaign, proving they could respond to adversity and compete with Europe’s elite.
Osimhen: “A Huge Moment for Me”
After the match, Osimhen reflected on the goal and what it meant to him personally.
“I’m extremely happy about the performance we put in against one of the greatest clubs in the world. For us, we never get carried away because this is a true test that Liverpool gave to us. They are one of the best teams in the last decade, and beating them is a big motivation for us.”
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He also opened up on how he approached the high-pressure penalty against Alisson.
“You find yourself up against one of the top goalkeepers in the world. I had to stay focused on the spot where I wanted to put the ball. He once saved a penalty from me when I was at Napoli, so I needed to be concentrated this time. For me, it’s a huge moment.”
Read also: Osimhen breaks Turkish record as Galatasaray crush Trabzonspor to lift Turkish Cup
With this historic goal, Osimhen has further cemented his reputation as one of Africa’s finest strikers of the modern era. His leadership and sharpness in front of goal could prove vital for Galatasaray as they aim to qualify from a challenging group.
Galatasaray next face Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt on October 22, while Liverpool will look to regroup when they visit Eintracht Frankfurt.
Chris John