Victor Osimhen: Super Eagles star gets first Galatasaray start, but denied stunning debut goal

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen thought he had wasted little time making an impression for his new club Galatasaray, scoring a decisive header in his debut match against Rizespor on Saturday.

The 25-year-old Nigerian international, who joined the Turkish giants from Napoli in a high-profile transfer, showcased his aerial ability by finding the back of the net with a well-placed header to double Galatasaray's lead.

Osimhen's goal came just 25 minutes into the match, building on an earlier header from teammate Davidson Sanchez that had opened the scoring in the 3rd minute.

The stage was set for Osimhen to make an immediate impact, with two other Nigerian players - Rizespor's Olawoyin Ibrahim and David Akintola - also featuring in the clash.

After a cagey start, Galatasaray quickly took control of the encounter, and Osimhen was eager to impress in his maiden outing for the club.

The transfer to Galatasaray came with high expectations for Osimhen, who has already established himself as a key figure for the Nigerian national team.

The goal was however awarded to his teammate Abdülkerim Bardakci after a review.

The performance would have continued Osimhen's recent goalscoring form, as the striker had found the net for Nigeria in their AFCON 2025 qualifier against Benin Republic just days earlier.

Galatasaray will be hoping Osimhen can maintain this clinical touch in front of goal as they look to challenge for domestic and European honours this season, with the striker's debut strike a promising start to his tenure at the club.