Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen saw his Europa League journey come to a devastating end as Galatasaray bowed out to AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night.
After missing the first leg due to suspension, Osimhen returned for the second leg at Rams Park, hoping to inspire a comeback from their 4-1 first-leg deficit. However, the Dutch side proved too strong, dominating the tie with a youthful squad averaging 23.2 years compared to Galatasaray’s 28.3.
How It Went Down
⚽ Seiya Maikuma opened the scoring just before halftime, extending AZ’s lead to 5-1 on aggregate.
⚽ In the second half, Kasius fired in a stunning long-range effort, making it 6-1 on aggregate.
⚽ Osimhen pulled one back with a powerful half-volley, sparking hopes of a comeback.
⚽ Roland Sallai equalized on the night, but Galatasaray still needed three more goals to force extra time.
Despite their late push, the match ended 2-2, confirming Galatasaray’s exit with a 6-3 aggregate loss.
A Tough Blow for Nigerian Stars in Europe
Osimhen’s early Europa League exit follows Ademola Lookman’s elimination with Atalanta just a day earlier, making it a disappointing week for Nigerian stars in European competitions.
For Galatasaray, the loss marks the end of their Europa League journey, while AZ Alkmaar advance to the next round with confidence.
