Victor Osimhen delivered a masterclass for Galatasaray on Saturday, netting a hat-trick in their dominant 4-0 victory over Antalyaspor. The Nigerian striker’s stellar performance not only propelled his team closer to the Turkish Super Lig title but also served as a timely warning to Rwanda and Zimbabwe ahead of Nigeria’s critical 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Osimhen, now the league’s top scorer with 20 goals, opened the scoring in the 25th minute, slotting home a precise cross from Álvaro Morata. Just before halftime, he turned provider, earning a penalty that Morata converted to double the lead. Moments later, Osimhen struck again, finishing a well-weighted assist from Barış Alper Yılmaz to make it 3-0. The 26-year-old completed his treble early in the second half, sprinting onto Yunus Akgün’s through ball before drilling a low shot past the goalkeeper.
The win extended Galatasaray’s lead at the summit to 10 points over rivals Fenerbahçe, though the latter retains two games in hand. Osimhen’s goalscoring surge saw him surpass Krzysztof Piątek (18 goals) in the Golden Boot race, cementing his pivotal role in the title charge.
With Nigeria set to resume their World Cup qualifying campaign this month, Osimhen’s red-hot form offers renewed hope for the Super Eagles, who sit third in their group after underwhelming draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. The on-loan striker, yet to feature in the qualifiers due to injury, is poised to lead the attack under interim coach Eric Chelle.
“Representing Nigeria at the World Cup is a lifelong dream,” Osimhen emphasized post-match. “We’re determined to correct our past mistakes and give everything on the pitch. The entire squad is focused on securing maximum points in these upcoming games.”
Nigeria faces Rwanda in Kigali on March 21 before hosting Zimbabwe at Uyo’s Godswill Akpabio Stadium four days later. Osimhen’s clinical finishing and newfound momentum could prove decisive as the three-time African champions seek to reignite their qualification bid.
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