Victor Osimhen becomes just the second Nigerian to score a Champions League treble as Galatasaray cruise past Ajax 3-0.
Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen delivered a performance for the ages, firing his club Galatasaray S.K. to a commanding 3-0 victory over Dutch giants AFC Ajax in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night. His three-goal haul not only sealed maximum points for his team, but also rewrote the record books for Nigerian players in Europe’s elite club competition.
The Match Breakdown
In Amsterdam at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, the game remained tightly poised in the first half. But once Osimhen broke through in the 59th minute with a powerful header off a pinpoint cross from Leroy Sané, the floodgates opened. He then calmly converted a penalty in the 66th minute and another in the 78th. His hat-trick was complete, and Galatasaray moved to nine points from four matches in the group.
Nigerian Records and Milestones
From the Nigerian perspective, the feat has particular significance:
- Osimhen became just the second Nigerian ever to score a Champions League hat-trick, the first being Yakubu Aiyegbeni for Maccabi Haifa back in 2002.
- He now leads the 2025-26 UCL season’s goalscoring chart with six goals, surpassing high-profile names like Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé who are on five each.
- He also overtook fellow Nigerian Obafemi Martins in the all-time Nigerian European competition goals list, after his recent uptick in Champions League scoring.
What This Means for Osimhen and Nigerian Football
For Osimhen, this is more than just personal glory. His performance sends a message: Nigerian players can dominate at the highest levels of club football, not just in the national setup. For the national team; Super Eagles, his form overseas is a major boost ahead of key qualifiers and tournaments.
From the Nigerian angle, the story resonates: a home-grown talent making good on the biggest stage, adding prestige not just for himself or his club, but for Nigerian football’s standing in Europe.
Looking Ahead
Galatasaray now sit on nine points from four games and are in a strong position to push deeper into the Champions League. For Osimhen, the challenge will be maintaining this blistering pace and translating the momentum into both club and Super Eagles success.
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