Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has expressed his disappointment following his team's first domestic league defeat of the season against newly promoted Kocaelispor, in a match marred by controversy involving Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
Controversial Decision Mars Galatasaray's Performance
The Turkish champions suffered their maiden Super League loss on November 9, 2025, falling 1-0 to newcomers Kocaelispor in a dramatic encounter. The defeat came just days after Galatasaray's impressive 3-0 Champions League victory over Ajax, where Victor Osimhen scored a remarkable hat-trick.
The match's turning point occurred when Victor Osimhen had a legitimate equalizing goal disallowed for offside during the latter stages. Video evidence suggested the Nigerian international was kept onside by an opponent's leg, making the decision particularly controversial.
Match Details and Coach's Reaction
The game's only goal came from English striker of Ghanaian descent Daniel Agyei, who found the net during additional minutes of the first half. This proved decisive as Kocaelispor held on for a historic victory against the defending champions.
Coach Okan Buruk provided an honest assessment during his post-match interview with GS TV. "First, we have to accept that our opponent started the game with more enthusiasm than us," Buruk admitted. "In an away match, our opponent showed that enthusiasm during the game, with their own fans present. We, however, couldn't display the same concentration, the same desire, and the same fight."
Fatigue and International Break Concerns
The Turkish manager highlighted several factors contributing to the disappointing performance. Buruk pointed to fatigue from playing six consecutive matches as a significant factor, noting the difficulty of returning from European competitions.
"This was a bad match for both the coaching staff and the players. We're upset in that sense," Buruk added. "We've played six matches in a row lately; sometimes returning from European matches can be difficult. On the other hand, there are players leaving for the national team before the break, which makes concentration difficult."
Despite the setback, Galatasaray maintains their position at the top of the Turkish Super League table, holding a one-point advantage over fierce rivals Fenerbahce as the international break approaches.
The loss marks Galatasaray's first domestic defeat of the season, though they had previously suffered a 5-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League. Victor Osimhen is among the players departing for international duty, where he'll face teammate Mario Lemina when Nigeria takes on Gabon in World Cup qualifying action.
