Paul Onuachu silenced seven games of frustration with a moment of instinct and a nerves of steel penalty as Trabzonspor defeated Konyaspor 2-1 in Friday’s Turkish Cup final to claim the club’s 10th title in the competition.
Turkish Cup Final, Friday 22 May 2026
The Super Eagles striker had gone without a goal in his previous seven appearances for Trabzonspor heading into the final, a run that had attracted scrutiny given the enormous expectations placed on him following a 22 goal Süper Lig campaign. He answered every question in the space of 40 second half minutes, first breaking the deadlock with a crisp volley inside the box in the 18th minute after collecting a cross from the right, then stepping up with cold composure to convert a penalty and restore the lead after Konyaspor had drawn level. Chibuike Nwaiwu, the 22 year old centre back who joined from Wolfsberger AC in January, played the full 90 minutes at the heart of the Trabzonspor defence. Anthony Nwakaeme, in what was widely expected to be his farewell game for the club, remained an unused substitute. Nigerian fans celebrating the win can check out the Bet9ja promotion code page ahead of next week’s Super Eagles Unity Cup semi-final.
How the Game Unfolded
Trabzonspor took the lead in the 18th minute when Onuachu connected with a cross from the right flank and despatched a clean volley past the Konyaspor goalkeeper. It was the kind of penalty area finish his scouting reports had always promised, executed under the pressure of a cup final after a difficult run of form. Konyaspor hit back five minutes into the second half through DRC forward Jackson Muleka, who found space inside the area to level matters at 1-1 and set up a nervy final half hour.
The drama intensified in the 58th minute when Konyaspor were awarded a penalty that could have put them in front for the first time in the game, but Enis Bardhi’s spot kick was saved by the Trabzonspor goalkeeper, keeping the scores level. Trabzonspor then won a penalty of their own, and Onuachu, who had scored the opening goal only to see his side pegged back, stepped up and rolled the ball into the corner with no visible sign of nerves to make it 2-1. As reported by FootballInNigeria.com.ng, it was Trabzonspor’s first Turkish Cup triumph since 2020 and gave the club a haul of ten in the competition since they first lifted it in 1977.
What the Trophy Means for Nigeria’s Three
For Onuachu, the winners’ medal is his third cup title in European football, adding to the Danish Cup he won with Midtjylland in 2019 and the Belgian Cup he secured with Genk in 2021. It is also arguably the most high-profile of the three, won at a stadium with over 40,000 supporters and broadcast to millions across Turkey and the wider football world. He ends the 2025-26 season with 22 Süper Lig goals, the Turkish Cup, and a place in the Super Eagles squad for June friendlies against Poland and Portugal. Nigerian fans eager to follow those matches can visit the Bet9ja’s YOHAIG welcome code page for the best available offer.
For Nwaiwu, a cup winners’ medal in only his fifth month at the club is a remarkable start to what promises to be a short stay at Papara Park before a bigger move materialises. His 90-minute shift in the final was composed and authoritative. The 22 year old will now link up with the Super Eagles ahead of the Unity Cup, where he is part of Eric Chelle’s squad for next Tuesday’s semi-final against Zimbabwe in London.
Nwakaeme’s evening was a quiet one. The 37 year old, whose contract expires this summer, watched proceedings from the bench and was not called upon by coach Fatih Tekke. He leaves Trabzonspor with a statue at Papara Park, six league titles and cup medals that cover the span of two stints, and the respect of an entire fanbase. The club has not confirmed whether he collected a winner’s medal on the pitch at full time, but the trophy itself was secured in part because of the culture he helped build during his years in Istanbul. Supporters can find details on the Bet9ja app download page to follow Nigeria’s upcoming matches on mobile.
📌 Did You Know?
- Paul Onuachu’s brace in the Turkish Cup final means he has now scored in cup finals at three different clubs in three different countries: Denmark with Midtjylland (2019), Belgium with Genk (2021), and Turkey with Trabzonspor (2026).
- Konyaspor midfielder Enis Bardhi, who missed the critical penalty in the 58th minute, is one of the most technically gifted set piece takers in the Süper Lig. His miss was especially painful for Konyaspor as it came at a moment when they could have taken the lead for the first time in the match.
- Jackson Muleka, who scored Konyaspor’s equaliser, is a Democratic Republic of Congo international who previously played for Standard Liège in Belgium. He has been one of the standout performers in Konyaspor’s 2025-26 Süper Lig campaign.
- Trabzonspor’s 10th Turkish Cup title places them third on the all time list of cup winners in Turkey, behind Galatasaray on 23 and Fenerbahce on 15. Beşiktaş, with 10, share the same tally as Trabzonspor following this win.
- Chibuike Nwaiwu played his 20th appearance for Trabzonspor in the Turkish Cup final, completing 90 minutes in a major final less than five months after arriving from Austria. He becomes the fastest Nigerian player in Trabzonspor’s history to reach the 20 appearance mark.
- Anthony Nwakaeme’s non-appearance as a substitute brought to an end any realistic chance of a fairytale send-off moment on the pitch. He still departs with six winners’ medals from his combined time at the club, making him one of the most decorated Nigerians ever to play in Turkey.
- Onuachu will now travel directly from Turkey to join the Super Eagles for their June friendlies against Poland in Warsaw on June 3 and Portugal in Leiria on June 10. The friendlies represent two of the toughest tests Nigeria have arranged in a non-competitive window in recent years.
