Galatasaray went to Samsunspor needing a win to clinch the Super Lig title. They lost 4-1. Victor Osimhen played the full 90 minutes, assisted the opening goal, then was directly involved in two of the goals scored against his team. He has since apologised to the fans.
The trophy party will have to wait until next week. Galatasaray’s 4-1 defeat at the Samsun 19 Mayıs Stadyumu on Saturday was one of the more unexpected results in the Turkish Super Lig this season.
Osimhen provided the assist for Yunus Akgün’s opener, giving Galatasaray the lead they needed. Then everything unravelled. Marius Mouandilmadji equalised in the 22nd minute. In the second half, Galatasaray were reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Günay Güvenç was sent off. Osimhen’s back-pass directly triggered the red card, with Güvenç forced into the foul that produced it. A turnover from Osimhen then led to Samsunspor’s second goal. Cherif Ndiaye scored twice to complete the humiliation. Nigerian fans following the title race can use the Bet9ja Super Lig page ahead of Galatasaray’s decisive home game against Antalyaspor next week.
Osimhen vs Samsunspor — Personal Stats
Minutes: 90 | Assists: 1 | Shots on target: 0 (from 4 attempts)
Ball losses: 10 | Rating: One of his worst as a Galatasaray player
After the match, Osimhen addressed the fans directly.
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy. We knew it would be a tough opponent. We were aware that winning the championship here wouldn’t be so easy. We didn’t play well either. We will win our home game and declare our championship. We also apologize to the fans. They didn’t leave us alone; they were by our side. We will look ahead.”
The Title Is Still Galatasaray’s to Win
Despite the defeat, Galatasaray remain in complete control of the Super Lig title race.
They lead second-place Fenerbahce by four points with two games remaining. Even if Fenerbahce win their remaining fixtures, Galatasaray need just one win from their games against Antalyaspor at home next week and the final fixture at Kasımpaşa to be confirmed as champions. The home match against Antalyaspor is the most logical moment for the party to finally happen. Bet9ja’s YOHAIG promo code is available for fans who want to follow Galatasaray’s title confirmation next weekend.
What This Means for Osimhen
Every player has bad games. The question is what follows them. Osimhen’s worst performance of the season arrived at the worst possible moment, with scouts from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Arsenal reportedly in attendance.
The back-pass that led to the red card and the turnover that gifted a goal are precisely the kinds of errors that do not define a career but do generate a news cycle. He knows it. The apology was sincere and immediate. The response next week, in front of the Galatasaray fans at Rams Park with a title on the line, will be the definitive answer. New Bet9ja users who want to follow Osimhen through the title finale can get started at Bet9ja’s YOHAIG welcome page.
📌 Did You Know?
- Galatasaray’s 4-1 defeat at Samsunspor is their heaviest away loss of the entire 2025-26 Super Lig season, arriving in a match they needed to win to clinch the title, making it one of the most poorly-timed results in the club’s recent history.
- Cherif Ndiaye, who scored twice for Samsunspor and was the driving force behind the upset, is a Senegalese international forward who has been one of the Super Lig’s more effective impact players this season despite playing for a mid-table club.
- Galatasaray’s goalkeeper Günay Güvenç, who received a red card following Osimhen’s back-pass, was playing in place of first-choice Stefan Ortega, giving Samsunspor an advantage they exploited throughout the second half with an extra-man situation.
- Galatasaray still lead the Super Lig by four points with two games remaining, meaning they need just one win from their fixtures against Antalyaspor at home and the final day at Kasımpaşa to be confirmed as champions for the fourth consecutive season.
- Osimhen’s 10 ball losses against Samsunspor was his highest in a single Super Lig match this season, reflecting a night when his usually sharp touch and link-up play failed to function at the level that has made him the league’s most feared forward.
- The Samsun 19 Mayıs Stadyumu, where the match was played, is named after the date May 19, 1919, the start of the Turkish War of Independence, giving the ground a historical significance that extends well beyond football in Turkish national consciousness.
- Galatasaray’s home match against Antalyaspor next weekend will be the anticipated title-clinching occasion, with the Rams Park crowd expected to produce one of the loudest and most emotional atmospheres of the Turkish football season.
