Super Eagles duo Victor Osimhen and Wilfred Ndidi were at the heart of the action as Galatasaray and Besiktas battled to a tense 1-1 draw in the Turkish Super Lig at Rams Park.
Coming into the match on the back of a famous UEFA Champions League win over Liverpool, Galatasaray started brightly but fell behind in the 12th minute when Tammy Abraham converted a well-taken chance for Besiktas. Gala’s night took another blow when defender Davinson Sánchez received a straight red card in the 34th minute, leaving the hosts a man down.
Despite the setback, Victor Osimhen led the line with his trademark energy and determination. The Nigerian striker, who was shown a yellow card in the 40th minute, constantly troubled Besiktas backline with his pressing and relentless running.
On the other end, Wilfred Ndidi, anchoring the midfield for Besiktas, looked composed until a crucial error proved costly. In the 55th minute, Ndidi was dispossessed by Lucas Torreira, who quickly set up Ilkay Gündogan to fire home the equalizer for Galatasaray.
The closing stages saw both teams push for a winner, with Osimhen coming close on two occasions, but the match ultimately ended 1-1. The result meant Galatasaray dropped points for the first time in the league this season, though they remain top with 22 points from eight matches. Besiktas sit sixth on 13 points after seven games.
For Nigerian fans, the clash served as a timely reminder of what Osimhen and Ndidi bring to the national team. Both players will now shift their focus to international duty as the Super Eagles prepare for must-win FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic next week.
