Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen found himself at the centre of a fiery confrontation even before kick-off in the latest edition of the fierce Istanbul derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.
Pre-Match Chaos Erupts in Kadikoy
The highly anticipated intercontinental derby at Ulker Stadium in Kadikoy on December 2, 2025, was set alight during the warm-up session. A viral video on social media platform X showed Victor Osimhen involved in a heated exchange with Fenerbahce's backup goalkeeper, Irfan Can Egribayat.
The situation escalated quickly, requiring intervention from teammates and staff from both sides to separate the two players. This altercation nearly sparked a larger melee as other players rushed in to broker peace.
What Sparked the Osimhen-Irfan Can Fracas?
According to reports from Turkish outlet TRT Spor, the clash began when Osimhen told Irfan Can to move back to the area of the pitch designated for Fenerbahce's warm-up. The goalkeeper had allegedly encroached into the space allocated for Galatasaray's preparations, leading to the verbal and physical confrontation.
The tension from the warm-up incident spilled over into the match itself. Osimhen, who was shown a yellow card during the game, also clashed with a familiar opponent, Fenerbahce defender Milan Skriniar. The Nigerian forward was eventually substituted in the 89th minute.
A Tense Draw and League Standings
The match, officiated by referee Yasin Kol, lived up to its chaotic billing, finishing in a 1-1 draw. Leroy Sane put Galatasaray ahead in the 27th minute, but a 90th-minute strike from Colombian Jhon Duran earned Fenerbahce a point. The referee issued a total of eight yellow cards, including one to Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk.
Neither manager commented on the pre-match incident post-game, instead focusing their criticism on the controversial officiating. The result leaves Galatasaray top of the Turkish Super Lig, just a single point ahead of their eternal rivals Fenerbahce.
For Victor Osimhen, the season has been a mix of promise and frustration. Having missed four league matches due to an injury sustained on international duty with Nigeria, his league tally stands at three goals and one assist in ten appearances. This places him behind fellow Nigerian Paul Onuachu (11 goals) and Eldor Shomurodov (10 goals) in the scoring charts.
Galatasaray's next fixture is against Samsunspor, while Fenerbahce prepare for another derby clash against Istanbul Basaksehir.
