A 1-1 draw with Basaksehir has cost Trabzonspor ground in the Turkish title race, and coach Fatih Tekke was furious afterwards, arguing that Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu was repeatedly fouled without protection from the referee.
Trabzonspor head coach Fatih Tekke has publicly criticised the officiating of referee Alper Akarsu after his side dropped two points in a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Basaksehir on Sunday. Tekke singled out the treatment of Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu, arguing the Nigerian was fouled on multiple occasions without adequate protection from the official, which left the side’s most lethal weapon neutered for most of the afternoon.
Onuachu completed all 90 minutes but managed just one shot on target during the match at Papara Park. Tekke’s view was that this was not a reflection of the striker’s effort but rather the result of Basaksehir players being allowed to commit fouls that went unpunished. “There were obvious fouls on Onuachu,” the coach said. “In several of these positions, the opponent won the attack, meanwhile our players were getting fouled.” He added: “We could have played better, we could have performed better. It’s important for my players to show the strength to stay in this race. I’m grateful to them.” Super Eagles fans following Onuachu’s season can use the Bet9ja’s YOHAIG code ahead of Trabzonspor’s remaining fixtures.
Tekke’s Broader Officiating Frustration
The coach was critical beyond just the fouls on Onuachu. He pointed to a Basaksehir challenge early in the match that should, in his assessment, have produced an intervention from Akarsu but was waved away, while a Trabzonspor set-piece situation involving a player named Augusto also drew his attention as an example of inconsistent decision-making. “There’s no standard in the officiating. Everyone complains about the referees,” Tekke said, framing his frustration as part of a wider pattern rather than an isolated grievance specific to this result.
The dropped points are painful for Trabzonspor given where they sit in the table. Having been two points off league leaders Galatasaray just a few weeks ago, they have now lost ground rapidly, falling four points behind the Cimbom in their last two games. They are currently third and also find themselves just two points ahead of Fenerbahce in the race for European competition next season. A loss or draw in either of their remaining matches could see them miss out on a Europa League spot entirely. Fans who want to stake on the Turkish title run-in can find the how to get Bet9ja promotion code guide for new accounts.
Onuachu Still Leads the Super Lig Scoring Charts
The subdued display against Basaksehir was an anomaly in what has otherwise been a remarkable individual season for Onuachu. Despite the frustration on Sunday, the Nigerian remains the top scorer in the Turkish Super Lig with 22 goals, a tally that reflects the kind of consistent finishing that made him one of the most sought-after strikers in European football when he was at Genk and Southampton. His presence in the title race matters enormously for Trabzonspor, and Tekke’s frustration at seeing him fouled repeatedly without redress is understandable given that every lost goal-scoring opportunity could be the difference between a trophy and an empty-handed finish. New Bet9ja users who want to follow the Turkish league through to the title decider can use Nigeria’s top Bet9ja code when signing up.
📌 Did You Know?
- Paul Onuachu’s 22 Super Lig goals this season make him the top scorer in the Turkish top flight, a title he has been competing for throughout a campaign in which Trabzonspor had realistic aspirations of challenging Galatasaray for the championship.
- Onuachu, who stands at 2.01 metres tall, is one of the tallest professional footballers currently active in European football, and his aerial ability and physical presence make him particularly difficult to manage for defenders in one-versus-one situations.
- Trabzonspor are based in the city of Trabzon on Turkey’s Black Sea coast and are one of the few clubs outside Istanbul to have won the Turkish Super Lig title, claiming their most recent championship in the 2021/22 season.
- Fatih Tekke, who was born in Germany to Turkish parents, had a playing career that included spells at clubs in Turkey and Germany, and he previously played for Trabzonspor himself before taking up coaching.
- Onuachu represented Nigeria at the 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, but his Super Eagles career has been intermittent due to the competition for the striker position posed by Victor Osimhen.
- Basaksehir, the club that held Trabzonspor to the draw, are based in Istanbul and are a relatively new club by Turkish football standards, having been founded in 1990 and reaching their first Super Lig title as recently as the 2019/20 season.
- Trabzonspor have lost ground in the Turkish title race despite Onuachu’s personal form, dropping from second place to third in the span of two matches and leaving Galatasaray increasingly clear at the top of the table.
