In a stunning twist that has left football fans across Africa and Europe baffled, Victor Osimhen — Nigeria’s talismanic striker and Galatasaray’s newest sensation — was snubbed by UEFA in its Champions League Team of the Week for Matchday 3, despite delivering a masterclass performance on Wednesday night, October 22, 2025.

Osimhen’s two-goal brace in Galatasaray’s 3–1 victory over Bodo Glimt at Rams Park not only sealed a crucial win for the Turkish giants but also made history, as he became the first player in Galatasaray’s history to score in seven consecutive European matches.

A Record-Breaking Night for Osimhen

Osimhen was in lethal form, scoring twice in clinical fashion to overturn an early deficit and lift his team to second place in their group. His manager, Okan Buruk, could hardly contain his admiration, describing the Nigerian as “one of the most complete and valuable strikers in world football.”

“If Osimhen were playing for a Premier League or La Liga club, he’d be one of the top three most expensive strikers in the world,” Buruk told reporters after the match.

The UEFA Champions League confirmed that Osimhen’s brace was decisive in maintaining Galatasaray’s unbeaten run in the league phase, boosting their hopes for a Round of 16 qualification.

UEFA Team of the Week Controversy

However, when UEFA’s Team of the Week was unveiled the following day, Osimhen’s name was missing, a decision that shocked pundits and fans alike. Instead, Athletic Bilbao’s Gorka Guruzeta, PSV’s Dennis Man, and Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon were chosen as the front three.

The midfield trio featured Barcelona’s Fermin López, Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha, and Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl, while the defense included Nuno Mendes (PSG), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), and Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan). Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario earned the top spot in goal for his stunning eight-save performance against Monaco.

Fans and Analysts Cry Foul

Data analysts and football statisticians were quick to call out the omission. According to Sofascore, Osimhen’s 9.8 match rating against Bodo Glimt was the highest of any forward in Europe that night, surpassing Guruzeta’s 9.5 in Bilbao’s win over Qarabag.

Many observers argued that Osimhen faced a stronger opponent, with Galatasaray’s victory coming under intense pressure in a must-win fixture, while Bilbao’s match was largely one-sided.

Nigerian fans flooded X (formerly Twitter) with reactions under the hashtag #JusticeForOsimhen, calling UEFA’s decision “disrespectful” and “politically biased.”

Eyes on Redemption

Despite the snub, Osimhen remains focused. Sources close to the Galatasaray camp revealed that the striker “laughed off” the omission, promising to “let the goals do the talking.” His current form nine goals in seven matches across all competitions — underscores why he remains Africa’s top football export.

As Galatasaray prepare for their next Champions League fixture against Manchester United, fans are already predicting another Osimhen masterclass, one that even UEFA won’t be able to ignore.