Victor Osimhen has come under heavy criticism following Galatasaray’s shocking 4-1 defeat to Samsunspor, a result that has stirred fresh tension in the Turkish Super Lig title race.
The Super Eagles striker started brightly at the Samsun Yeni 19 Mayıs Stadyumu, setting up Yunus Akgün for the opener inside nine minutes. It looked like a routine outing for the league leaders, but the game quickly slipped out of their control.
Marius Mouandilmadji struck twice in the first half to turn the game on its head, before Cherif Ndiaye added a third just after the break. Ndiaye later completed his brace late in the game, sealing a convincing win for the home side.
The turning point, however, came in a moment involving Osimhen and goalkeeper Günay Güvenc. The Nigerian forward attempted to recycle possession after bringing down a long ball, but his misplaced pass forced the goalkeeper into a poor decision. Güvenc handled the ball outside the box and was shown a red card, leaving Galatasaray a man down at a crucial stage.
Osimhen’s reaction after the incident drew attention, and former Besiktas title winner Sinan Engin did not hold back in his assessment, questioning both the striker’s decision-making and attitude during the game.
“Osimhen is not bigger than Galatasaray. He played brilliantly during his loan spell, I admired him. But now he’s arguing with the referee and his teammates,” the 61-year-old said on the Beyaz Futbol channel.
“He’s playing incredibly carelessly. How can he pass to the centre-back? What kind of complacency is that my friend?
“Today, the Galatasaray team may have played with the wrong defensive setup, they may have left themselves exposed,” the former Besiktas coach concluded
Despite the setback, Galatasaray remain top of the Turkish Super Lig table, sitting four points ahead of Fenerbahce. However, the defeat has reopened the title race and raised concerns about consistency at a critical stage of the season.
For Osimhen, who enjoyed an impressive run earlier in the campaign after arriving from Napoli, this performance will be seen as one to quickly move past. With the title still within reach, attention will now shift to how both the player and the team respond in their next outing.
