By Charles Ofoji
Nigerian star striker Victor Osimhen scored a brace and helped Galatasaray secure another Turkish Super League title on Saturday at Rams Park after a 4-2 home win over a stubborn Antalyaspor side that went ahead twice.
Osimhen first equalised (2-2) from the spot in the 66th minute and then put his team 3-2 ahead two minutes from time to pave the way for the back to back league triumph with the Lions in his two seasons at the Istanbul club.
Though Kaan Ayhan made it 4-2 worse for Antalyaspor in added time to see Galatasaray go four points ahead of arch city rivals Fenerbahce, who they thrashed 3-0 last month that saw the losers sack both the coach and sports director.
With only one game left to play in the season, their lead became unassailable and therefore sealed a record-stretching 26th league title for the Lions. It was also their fourth consecutive league glory.
It means that Galatasaray have qualified directly for the Champions League again after making it to the knock-out round this year, making waves by defeating Europe giants, Juventus and Liverpool.
The Lions, with 26 titles, had also previously won four consecutive league titles in the late 1990s. Their closest rivals Fenerbache have now gone 12 seasons without a league title, the longest emptiness in the club’s proud history.
The business of winning the league is now over for Galatasaray, who would now return to the unfinished business of fighting to keep their talisman, Osimhen, who again has attracted the fancy of Europe big clubs, including Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelon, PSG etc.
But the Nigerian striker had consistently said that he is happy at Rams Park, where he has attained the status of the fans favourite and surely on his way to becoming a legendary lion.
“Since I arrived, both my family and I have had a great time with the president, the coach, the team — everyone. I’m happy here. I love my club, I love my coach, and I love the fans!” Osimhen had said in March.
But that love would be tested when he and the Istanbul club are made a mouth-watering monetary offer that they could not resist by any of his big suitors.
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