Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen has expressed his delight at scoring both goals that gave Galatasaray a 2-1 win over Fenerbahce in the quarterfinals of the Turkish FA Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.
Victor Osimhen was the hero for Galatasaray as his brace secured a 2-1 victory over Fenerbahçe in the Turkish Cup quarter-finals.
However, the fiery Istanbul derby was overshadowed by a post-match altercation involving Fenerbahçe boss José Mourinho and Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk.
Osimhen, on loan from Napoli, delivered a clinical performance to help his side bounce back from their weekend league defeat to Besiktas.
The Nigerian forward, who had struggled in that loss, responded emphatically, scoring twice to book Galatasaray’s place in the semi-finals.
— Victor Osimhen (@victorosimhen9) April 2, 2025
What Victor Osimhen said after Galatasaray victory
Speaking after the game, Osimhen reflected on the intensity of the derby and expressed his gratitude to his teammates and fans.
“We know that Galatasaray – Fenerbahçe matches are intense and difficult matches,” the Super Eagles striker told the media.
“It is necessary to focus from the first minute to the ninetieth minute. We were actually optimistic when we came. Unfortunately, we made our fans unhappy last week. We had to play well here to compensate for them. Now we will look at the upcoming matches and progress match by match.”
Osimhen, who has embraced life at Galatasaray since arriving on loan from Napoli, reaffirmed his commitment to the club.
“As I have said in previous interviews, I have really loved this club since I came here, I loved the people here, I loved the fans. I want to reciprocate their love by working hard. My teammates are also very important to me. They always support me.
“Of course, scoring a goal in the derby was important. If my teammates had not done very important things, I would not have been able to score those goals. I am grateful to them in this regard. I want to continue my performance. I want to do everything I can for the team.”
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How Galatasaray won it
Osimhen opened the scoring in the ninth minute, rifling a shot into the top corner after Davinson Sánchez’s long pass was expertly cushioned by Baris Alper Yilmaz.
The visitors doubled their lead after Filip Kostic’s handball inside the box gifted Osimhen the chance to convert from the penalty spot – a task he executed with typical composure.
Fenerbahce, having dominated possession, pulled one back before the break when Anderson Talisca teed up Sebastian Szymański, who finished from close range.
Despite their pressure in the second half, the hosts struggled to break down Galatasaray’s disciplined defence. Tensions boiled over in the final minutes, leading to a chaotic altercation that saw Kerem Demirbay, Baris Alper Yilmaz, and Mert Hakan Yandaş all sent off.
Galatasaray held firm to see out the win, securing a semi-final showdown with Konyaspor on April 22.
Mourinho vs. Buruk: Derby chaos
The drama extended beyond the final whistle when Mourinho appeared to physically confront Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk.
The altercation took place as both managers approached the match officials in the centre circle. Mourinho, coming from behind, seemed to pinch Buruk’s nose, causing the Galatasaray manager to stumble backward.
Fenerbahçe manager Jose Mourinho to Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk. pic.twitter.com/BF7hk23AFF
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 2, 2025
Galatasaray’s Vice President Metin Öztürk strongly condemned Mourinho’s actions, branding it an attack on both Buruk and Turkish football.
“The latest incident is not only an attack on the Galatasaray Technical Director but also on Turkish football,” Metin Öztürk lamented.
“I don’t know where this Mourinho gets this courage from. He insults Turkishness and there is no penalty. He gets a four-match penalty, it is reduced to one match and he serves that penalty in the Turkish Cup.
“Today, he attacked Okan Hoca. We are having great difficulty understanding this. TFF and observers have seen this by now. Both Okan Hoca and Mourinho went and congratulated the referees. Afterwards, while Okan Hoca continued, Mourinho first attacked verbally and then physically. Where in the world can he do this? Where does he think Türkiye is?”
Buruk, however, downplayed the incident and ruled out pressing charges.
“There was nothing between me (Mourinho). I just congratulated the referees. He had also gone to congratulate the referees.
“While I was continuing, he pinched my nose from behind. It was a slight scratch. Of course, it’s not a very nice or stylish thing. We want to stay in the game. We especially want and expect the behavior of the technical staff to be more correct here.
“I won’t exaggerate this, but it’s not a very stylish thing. We should have shaken each other’s hands before the match. Unfortunately, we couldn’t experience that. It’s not a big deal. I won’t exaggerate this.”
Osimhen has now scored 28 goals and added five assists in 32 games across all competitions for Galatasaray.