Victor Osimhen has admitted that the return leg of the UEFA Champions League clash between Galatasaray S.K. and Liverpool F.C. will be a difficult contest despite his side’s narrow victory in the first meeting, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The Nigeria national football team striker played a key role as Galatasaray secured a slim advantage over the Premier League outfit in the first leg, strengthening their hopes of progressing to the next round of the competition.

Speaking after the match, Osimhen acknowledged the challenge awaiting the Turkish champions in the return fixture at Anfield.

“The return leg next week will be difficult, but I have faith in my lads. I'm proud to have won today,” Osimhen said.

The 25-year-old also expressed his happiness since arriving at Galatasaray, praising the club’s supporters for the warm welcome extended to him and his family.

“I'm very happy to have come to Galatasaray. I'm grateful for the love they've shown me and my family,” he added.

The decisive second leg will take place at Anfield next week, with the aggregate winner securing a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

Ademola Lookman was in action as Atletico Madrid defeated Tottenham Hotspur 5–2 in their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first-leg encounter at the Metropolitano Stadium on Tuesday night, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

It was Lookman’s third appearance for the Spanish giants in the competition following his move from Atalanta last month. The 28-year-old has so far registered one goal and one assist for the side managed by Diego Simeone.

The Nigerian international was substituted in the 69th minute and replaced by Pablo Barrios.

Julián Álvarez scored twice for Atletico, while Marcos Llorente, Antoine Griezmann, and Robin Le Normand also got on the scoresheet.

For Tottenham, Pedro Porro and Dominic Solanke found the net.

The second leg of the tie will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next Tuesday.

Victor Osimhen believes Galatasaray have what it takes to defeat Liverpool FC at Anfield in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The Turkish giants secured a 1–0 victory in the first leg, with Osimhen providing the assist for the decisive goal scored by Mario Lemina in the seventh minute.

The two sides will meet again in the return fixture next Wednesday, and the Nigeria international remains confident that his team can seal qualification for the quarter-finals.

“We did a very good job today. I think we can hurt Liverpool in the return match. We’ve done a good job so far,” Osimhen was quoted as saying on Galatasaray’s official website.

Before kickoff, Galatasaray supporters unveiled an emotional tifo that portrayed Osimhen alongside his daughter and his late mother, accompanied by the message: “We are family, and family is everything.”

The 27-year-old admitted the moment was deeply emotional for him.

“I’ve been very happy since I arrived wearing this jersey. This jersey is very special. I wanted to do my best for these fans,” Osimhen said.

“I’m experiencing completely different emotions here. I lost my mother at a young age, and the fans made me very happy today. That’s why it’s so important to me. We are a family with the Galatasaray fans.”

Victor Osimhen has set a new record for the most goal involvements by a Nigerian player in a single c campaign, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

According to OptaJoe, the striker reached the milestone after providing an assist in Galatasaray’s 1–0 victory over Liverpool FC in Tuesday’s round of 16 first-leg clash in Turkey.

The Nigerian international has now been involved in eight goals in the competition this season, scoring seven times and registering one assist.

The previous Nigerian record for goal involvements in a single Champions League campaign was six, jointly held by Ademola Lookman (2024/2025), Tijani Babangida (1996/1997), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (2002/2003), and John Utaka (2002/2003).

Osimhen also played a key role in the decisive moment of the match. His header from a corner created the opening that allowed Mario Lemina to score the winning goal in the seventh minute.

The record further highlights Osimhen’s growing influence on the European stage as he continues to deliver outstanding performances for Galatasaray in the competition.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has described Victor Osimhen as an “elite striker” ahead of his side’s UEFA Champions League clash with Galatasaray at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

Osimhen has been in impressive form in the competition this season, scoring six goals in five Champions League appearances. The 27-year-old Nigerian forward has also found the net six times in 13 league matches for the Turkish giants.

Guardiola acknowledged the overall quality within the Galatasaray squad while speaking at his pre-match press conference.

“We will try to win tomorrow. Galatasaray are leading the Turkish league and all their players are exceptional,” Guardiola said.

“Victor Osimhen is a very elite striker. Osimhen has special players he can connect with.

“Sane is very fast, very agile… Ilkay Gündo?an, Mario Lemina. He has experienced players.”

Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman was on target as Atalanta recorded an impressive 3-0 away victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

Lookman opened the scoring in the 60th minute, expertly finishing a precise cross from Charles De Ketelaere to break the deadlock. Just two minutes later, the Nigerian international turned provider, combining with teammates and setting up Ederson to double Atalanta’s advantage. The rout was completed when Scamacca’s powerful shot rattled the bar, and De Ketelaere followed up to score the third.

Speaking after the match, Lookman praised the team’s performance and growing confidence. “It’s a big performance for the team, and a good victory away from home. In the first half, we had a few chances, and coming out in the second half, we knew we had to create chances again. It’s pretty good that we scored three goals quickly, and the team is gradually gaining confidence,” he said.

Atalanta head coach Ivan Juric has denied reports of a fallout with Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman following a heated exchange during their UEFA Champions League clash on Wednesday, writes Nigeriasoccernet.com.

Footage from the match appeared to show Juric and Lookman engaging in a brief verbal confrontation as the forward was substituted, sparking media speculation about a possible disagreement between the two.

Addressing the situation after the game, Juric downplayed the incident, insisting that such moments are part of football’s emotional intensity.

“These things happen every Sunday, like the Conte–De Bruyne incident in Naples,” Juric told reporters.
“In the heat of the moment, things can get a bit exaggerated, but it’s resolved in the locker room. Players aren’t always happy with substitutions, and sometimes emotions run high. What matters most is Atalanta and the team’s well-being.”

Lookman, who has been a key player for Atalanta this season, remains an integral part of Juric’s plans. The Nigerian international has contributed several crucial goals and assists in both Serie A and the Champions League, helping the Bergamo side maintain their impressive form domestically and in Europe.

The forward is expected to feature in Atalanta’s upcoming Serie A fixture, as the club continues its push for success on multiple fronts.

Nigeria's Victor Osimhen achieved another landmark achievement, leading Galatasaray SK to victory against Ajax in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The Super Eagles striker bagged a hat-trick to help the red and gold thrash the Dutch giants at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

After he was Osimhen was denied by a fine save from Remko Pasveer in the first half, which ended goalless, the former African footballer of the year put up a masterclass in the second half.

Galatasaray was ahead early in the second half after Osimhen headed in a wonderful cross from Leroy Sané to open the scoring in the 59th minute.

In the 66th minute, he doubled the score from the spot after a handball before completing his hat-trick in the 78th minute from another penalty.

Osimhen, who was crowned the man of the match, is the second player to score a treble in the Champions League for Galatasaray after Burak Yilmaz against CFR Cluj in 2012.

Osimhen, with his first hat-trick in the Champions League, also has become the Nigerian with the most goals in European club competitions with 25 goals, usurping Obafemi Martins at 23 goals.

Uche Dozie

Nigeria's midfielder, Raphael Onyedika, scored his first UEFA Champions League goal of the season in Club Brugge’s thumping of AS Monaco, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The Super Eagles Midfielder scored his first Champions League goal of the season in Club Brugge’s 4-1 win over AS Monaco at the Jan Breydel.

An enthralling encounter started with the host on the ascendency, coming close to scoring in four minutes, but Tzolis missed the chance to put his side in front.

In 9 minutes, Monaco had the opportunity to go in front after a penalty, but Mignolet saved the spot kick. Unfortunately, the shot stopper had to be substituted after the save for Jackers after an injury.

The push for a goal continued as the Belgian side created chance after chance until the 32nd minute, when the deadlock was broken through Nicolò Tresoldi.

Onyedika doubled the lead six minutes later before the captain Hans Vanaken put Club Brugge in a comfortable place with the third goal with three minutes left at the end of the first 45 minutes.

Mamadou Diakhon, who came on at the one-hour mark, made it four-nil 15 minutes later to put the game beyond the French side.

Substitute Ansu Fati scored a consolation for Monaco after a minute of additional time as the game ended 4-1.

Uche Dozie

Super Falcons' Rinsola Babajide provided an assist in AS Roma's 2-0 win over FK Aktobe in the UEFA Women's Champions League qualification, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

She provided the assist for the opening goal in the 40th minute, setting up Marta Pandini to break the deadlock.

Just a minute later, Giulia Galli doubled the advantage, sealing the win for the Italian champions before half-time.

The Women's African Cup of Nations winner played for 69 minutes while her compatriot ,Shukurat Oladip,o held it down in defense for 90 minutes.

Uche Dozie

Nigeria Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman moved from hero to villain after side Atalanta BC was knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Club Brugge on Tuesday night, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The reigning African footballer of the year scored and missed a penalty but failed to save his team from falling 1-3 at the Stadio Citta' Di Bergamo, as their journey ended at the knockout phase play-off stage.

The visitors had scored as early as the 3rd minute of the encounter through 19-year-old Chemsdine Talbi before he doubled the lead in the 27th minute with his second of the night.

Ferran Jutglà's third goal, three minutes after extra time, sealed a perfect first half for the Belgian giants.

Ademola Lookman replied seconds after his half-time introduction before Simon Mignolet saved a Lookman penalty in the 61st minute of the game.

Home captain Rafael Tolói was dismissed late on, compounding the woes of Atalanta.

Uche Dozie

Club Brugge midfielder, Raphael Onyedika has expressed his excitement after scoring his first-ever UEFA Champions League goal against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

Onyedika's strike proved to be a consolation as Brugge lost 3-1 to the Premier League giants on Wednesday night.

The Nigeria international struggled to contain his emotions after the match, telling flashscore "I don't know how to put it, but it's an amazing feeling to score my first goal in City's stadium. I'm so proud."

Onyedika also acknowledged that his side's mistakes proved costly, saying: "We knew it would be difficult after we conceded the first goal; they had more momentum and energy, so it was much more difficult for us because of our mistakes."

By Olujimi Dare Ogun

Nigeria Super Eagles forward Nathan Tella's vital goal consolidated victory for German Bundesliga Champions, Bayer Leverkusen as they progress to the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

Tella's second-half goal and first UCL goal helped the Werkself to a 2-0 win over Sparta Praha at the Bay Arena on Wednesday.

Florian Wirtz got the opener for the hosts in the 32nd minute as Leverkusen led 1-0 in the first half.

The Nigerian forward netted on a rebound to double his side’s lead, capping off a dominant performance against their Czech opponents.

Tella who scored his second goal of the season played for 82 minutes following his exit for Robert Andrich.

Uche Dozie

2024 Europa League champions, Atalanta BC eased past Sturm Graz in the UEFA Champions League courtesy of a fine performance of Ademola Lookman, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The reigning African footballer of the year came from the bench at 1-0 to lead the Italian Serie A side to a 5-0 victory over the Austrian League champions at the Gewiss Stadium.

Mateo Retegui opened the score in the 12th minute, but that was all it was as the first half ended 1-0 in favour of Atalanta.

At the start of the second half, Cuadrado and Lookman came in for Palestra and Retegui.

Mario Pasalic doubled the lead in the 59 minutes before Charles added the third 4 minutes later.

Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman headed in a cross to make it 4-0 for Atalanta and be in cruise control.

Lookman with a great play assisted Marco Brescianini for the fifth goal, 3 minutes into additional time.

Atalanta are 4th on the log with 14 points after 7 matches.

Uche Dozie

Nigeria's Ademola Lookman continued his fine form in Atalanta BC's defeat to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

He scored with a beautiful finish, but could not prevent Atalanta from falling to a tough 2-3 home defeat vs Real Madrid in Bergamo.

Kylian Mbappe opened scored in the 10th minute before Charles De Ketelaere restored parity for the hosts after 2 minutes of additional time at the end of the first half.

Vinicius Junior restored Madrid's lead in the 56th minute before Jude Bellingham doubled the lead 3 minutes lead.

Lookman pulled one back for Atalanta BC in the 66th minute, but it could not ensure a comeback for the hosts, but the Nigerians performance did not go unnoticed as he was awarded the man of the match.

The result leaves Atalanta 9th on the log while Real Madrid are 18th after 6 matches in the UEFA Champions League.

Uche Dozie

In a standout Champions League performance, Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman struck once again for Atalanta, helping secure a vital victory over Stuttgart on Wednesday night, Nigeriasoccernet.com writes.

This goal marked Lookman’s second in this season’s Champions League, further solidifying his critical role in Atalanta’s ongoing nine-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, comprising seven wins and two draws.

The 27-year-old forward has become indispensable to the Serie A side, now boasting an impressive 13 goal contributions in 13 games, a testament to his consistency and influence on the field. Lookman’s latest Champions League goal underscored his ability to deliver under pressure, breaking Stuttgart’s year-long undefeated record on home soil.

The tightly contested match took a turn when Atalanta’s manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, brought on Charles De Ketelaere in the second half. Just six minutes in, De Ketelaere carved through Stuttgart’s defense, setting up Lookman for a swift, clinical finish into an open net.

Stuttgart’s attempts to equalize were thwarted, and Atalanta extended their lead with a late goal from Nicolò Zaniolo, capitalizing on Stuttgart’s defensive slip.

Lookman’s stellar season has not gone unnoticed, especially as he emerges as a favorite for the CAF Player of the Year, with eight goals and five assists in all competitions thus far.

Oluwayemi Omolagba

In a challenging Champions League night, Nigerian forward Victor Olatunji gave Sparta Prague fans a moment of excitement with a late goal against Brest, his second in this season's European campaign, Nigeriasoccernet.com writes.

Although Olatunji’s strike came in stoppage time, it wasn’t enough to avoid a 2-1 defeat, leaving Sparta struggling in the group-stage rankings.

The match began with difficulties for Sparta, as Edmilson Fernandes capitalized on a defensive slip to give Brest the lead just before halftime. An unfortunate own goal in the second half further widened the gap, compounding Sparta’s challenge.

However, in the 92nd minute, Olatunji, seizing a clever pass from Lukáš Sadílek, found the net to keep spirits alive, though the team ultimately couldn’t turn the tide.

Olatunji’s form has been a standout amidst Sparta’s struggles. Earlier in the season, he made headlines by scoring and assisting on his Champions League debut against RB Salzburg—a feat that established him as the first Nigerian to score and assist on a debut in the competition.

The 24-year-old forward’s tally now stands at seven goals and two assists across all competitions this season.

As Sparta prepares for their league match against Mladá Boleslav, Olatunji’s performances remain a source of optimism, with fans hopeful he can help the team regain its footing in both domestic and European contests.

Oluwayemi Omolagba

The Italian Serie A side defeated the Belgian side 3-1 against a 10-man Club Brugge after Onyedika was shown a red card.

After Joel Ordóñez hit the crossbar for Brugge, Christian Pulišic struck directly from a corner in the 34th minute.

Despite Raphael Onyedika's dismissal six minutes later, the visitors equalised when Kyriani Sabbe drilled in after the restart.

Tijjani Reijnders however scored twice in 10 minutes (61 and 71 minutes) to give Milan their first points with Chukwueze assisting his second.

Uche Dozie 

Bayer Leverkusen will be without star forward Victor Boniface for their upcoming UEFA Champions League clash against Brest, as manager Xabi Alonso confirmed the Nigerian striker's absence due to an unfortunate car accident earlier this week, Nigeriasoccernet.com writes.

Boniface’s omission from the squad comes as a precautionary measure following the incident, which has understandably impacted both his physical and emotional well-being.

The accident occurred on Sunday morning, just hours after Boniface played a pivotal role in Leverkusen’s 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, scoring the match-winning goal. Since then, the striker has not participated in any training sessions with the team.

During a press conference, Alonso provided an update on the player’s condition, stating, "He is not in the squad. After what happened, it’s also a precautionary measure. He’s missing for health reasons. He has a small wound on his hand and a small cut on his right foot. But the shock is bigger."

Alonso emphasized that while Boniface is recovering physically, the emotional impact of the accident is still weighing on him. "Physically he is better, but it is also an emotional issue. He feels good but he is not ready for tomorrow," the manager added.

Boniface has been a key player for Leverkusen this season, having already scored seven goals in all competitions, including one in the Champions League. His absence will be felt as the team looks to secure vital points in the group stage of the competition. However, the club is prioritizing his recovery, both mentally and physically, before he makes a return to the pitch.

Leverkusen, currently enjoying a strong campaign under Alonso, will need to adjust their attacking setup without Boniface, but the team remains hopeful for his quick recovery and eventual return to action.

Oluwayemi Omolagba

Boniface scored the only goal as the German Bundesliga champions defeated the Italian Serie A giants 1-0 at the BayArena.

After scoring a goal in the 24th minute which was ruled out for offside, the Nigerian broke the deadlock in the 51st minute.

His first Champions League goal was enough for the Werkself to earn their second victory of the 2024/25 UCL season.

His compatriot, Nathan Tella was also in action for Bayer Leverkusen while Samuel Chukwueze played for the opposite side, AC Milan.

Uche Dozie