Nigeria international Victor Osimhen was moved to tears after Galatasaray S.K. fans paid a touching tribute to his late mother ahead of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first-leg clash against Liverpool F.C. on Tuesday night.
Moments before kick-off at RAMS Park in Istanbul, a group of Galatasaray supporters unveiled a giant banner featuring a portrait of Osimhen and his late mother alongside the message: “We are family, and family is everything.”
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The 27-year-old Super Eagles striker was visibly emotional as he lined up with teammates Mario Lemina and Gabriel Sara. He appeared overwhelmed by the gesture and was comforted by midfielder Lucas Torreira before the players exchanged handshakes with their opponents.
Osimhen later played a decisive role in the match, delivering a superb assist as Galatasaray secured a 1–0 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of the Round of 16 tie in Istanbul.
The Turkish champions struck early, capitalising on a seventh-minute corner that caught the English side off guard and ultimately proved decisive.
The tribute carried deep personal significance for the Nigerian forward, who lost his mother at a young age, and it left him visibly emotional before the match.
“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 told the club’s official website after the game.
“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.”
With 18 goals across all competitions this season, seven of them in Europe, Osimhen remains the focal point of a Galatasaray side dreaming of a deep run in the UEFA Champions League.
