Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen found the net on Thursday, but his effort was not enough to help Galatasaray advance to the Europa League Round of 16 as they suffered elimination at the hands of AZ Alkmaar.
Galatasaray’s Struggles and AZ Alkmaar’s Dominance
Osimhen, who missed the first leg due to suspension, was eager to make an impact in the return fixture at Rams Park. However, despite his goal and Galatasaray’s determination to overturn a 4-1 first-leg deficit, the younger and more energetic AZ Alkmaar side proved too strong.
The Dutch team, with an average squad age of 23.2 compared to Galatasaray’s 28.3, took control of the match. Seiya Maikuma opened the scoring just before halftime, taking advantage of a defensive error.
A Disappointing Week for Nigerian Stars in Europe
Osimhen’s exit followed another disappointing night for Nigerian footballers in Europe, as Ademola Lookman and his Atalanta team were also knocked out just 24 hours earlier.
