By Oluwabukunmi
Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen, etched his name in the history books on Tuesday night after becoming the first Nigerian player to score double-digit goals in the UEFA Champions League proper.
The 26-year-old striker reached the landmark while leading the line for Galatasaray in their Group Stage clash against reigning Premier League champions Liverpool at Rams Park.
Making his first full start for the Turkish giants since recovering from an ankle injury sustained during Nigeria’s recent World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa, Osimhen wasted no time in making an impact.
In the 16th minute, Galatasaray were awarded a penalty after Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai was penalised for a foul inside the box. Osimhen stepped up with confidence, sending goalkeeper Alisson Becker the wrong way to register his first goal of the season in Europe’s elite club competition.
The strike brought his overall Champions League tally to 10 goals, a figure no Nigerian has previously achieved. Osimhen now surpasses Obafemi Martins (nine goals) and sits ahead of other notable Nigerian stars including Ademola Lookman, Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba, and Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who each scored five times in the competition.
Osimhen’s milestone highlights his growing legacy as one of Africa’s most prolific strikers on the continental Stage.
