Human-trafficking survivor Eze seals dream Osimhen meeting as Çorum FK reach Super Lig

Two Lagos-born forwards – Emeka Friday Eze and Victor Osimhen – who travelled very different roads in football are now on course to meet in one of Turkey’s biggest football stories next season, Afrik-Foot reports.

Eze is set to face fellow Nigerian striker Osimhen after Çorum FK secured a historic promotion to the Turkish Süper Lig, where champions Galatasaray are expected to continue building their team around the Super Eagles superstar.

Çorum FK confirmed promotion to the Turkish Süper Lig for the first time in their history after defeating Esenler Erokspor 2-0 in the Trendyol 1. Lig play-off final on Sunday.

The final took place at the MEDAŞ Konya Büyükşehir Stadium in Konya, where Çorum produced a composed performance under head coach Uğur Uçar.

Serdar Gürler opened the scoring in the 36th minute before experienced striker Mame Thiam doubled the advantage in the 52nd minute with a powerful header from a set-piece delivery.

Esenler Erokspor’s difficult evening became worse deep into stoppage time when Guelor Kanga received a straight red card in the 90+3rd minute.

The victory completed a stunning rise for Çorum FK, who were still playing in Turkey’s third tier seven years ago.

Before winning the play-offs, Çorum had finished fourth during the regular Trendyol 1. Lig campaign and also defeated Bodrum FK 2-0 in the semi-final stage to reach the final.

The promoted clubs from the 2025-26 season are Erzurumspor, Amedspor and Çorum FK.

Eze’s first-half impact laid the foundation

Although Eze spent the second half of the season away on loan, the Lagos-born striker played a major role in helping Çorum remain in the promotion race during the early months of the campaign.

The 29-year-old joined the club in July 2025 on a free transfer and quickly became the focal point of their attack.

He scored five goals and provided three assists in just 15 appearances before the winter break.

Eze announced himself early to the fans by scoring an important away winner against Adana Demirspor in August. He also registered a key assist during a 2-0 home victory over eventual direct-promotion rivals Amedspor.

Standing at 187cm, the Nigerian striker gave Çorum a strong physical presence in attack. His hold-up play, aerial ability and movement around the penalty area became one of the club’s biggest weapons during the first half of the season.

Despite his strong form, Çorum reshaped their squad during the January transfer window. On January 8, 2026, Eze joined fellow Trendyol 1. Lig side Sarıyer Spor Kulübü on a six-month loan deal.

The striker continued his fine scoring form there, adding another five goals to finish the season with 10 league goals overall.

His temporary departure also helped Çorum create financial and squad space to bring in experienced reinforcements such as Mame Thiam, whose goal eventually helped secure promotion in the final.

Because the move was only a loan, Eze remains under contract with Çorum FK until June 2027 and is expected to return ahead of the club’s debut Süper Lig campaign. That now opens the door to a potentially emotional meeting with Osimhen next season.

Osimhen versus Eze: Lagos boys on opposite sides

If both players remain in Turkey this summer, Nigerian fans could witness one of the most fascinating storylines in the Turkish Süper Lig.

While Eze battled through the tough conditions of the Turkish second division, Osimhen has become the face of the country’s football following his massive permanent transfer from Napoli to Galatasaray.

The Super Eagles striker is now viewed as the biggest star in Turkey and the central figure in Galatasaray’s title ambitions and European campaigns.

Eze, meanwhile, will arrive in the top flight carrying the underdog story. When Çorum visit RAMS Park or welcome Galatasaray, the contrast between both Nigerians will attract huge interest in Lagos and across West Africa.

One player represents Turkish football’s global superstar. The other represents doggedness, survival and years of grinding through lower leagues.

Matches against Galatasaray may also provide Eze with the biggest stage of his professional career. The Turkish champions are expected to continue relying on an elite defensive unit featuring stars such as Davinson Sánchez.

Facing defenders of that quality will test Eze’s physical game at the highest level. But those matches could also become a major opportunity.

Galatasaray usually dominate possession and defend with a high line, which may create spaces for Çorum to counterattack using Eze’s strength and aerial ability. With little pressure on newly-promoted Çorum, any strong display from the Nigerian striker against the champions could dramatically raise his profile.

If Eze scores or matches Osimhen’s impact in either fixture, it would instantly become one of the stories of the Turkish season.

There is still strong transfer interest in Osimhen from several major European clubs, including sides in England and Spain. However, Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek has publicly insisted that the club does not want to sell the Nigerian striker.

That means Turkish football fans could begin to dream about a blockbuster Lagos derby between two Nigerian forwards next season.

Eze: Abandoned in Cameroon, set to star in the Super Lig

Eze’s journey to this moment has been extraordinary. Born in Lagos in September 1996, he grew up playing barefoot football on the streets and even started out as a goalkeeper before eventually moving into attack.

As a teenager, he was promised an academy opportunity in Cameroon by a rogue football agent. Instead, he and several other young players were abandoned without food, money or support. While many of the others returned home, Eze decided to stay behind and chase his football dream.

He eventually signed for lower-division Cameroonian club Oxygène de Mfou and exploded into form, scoring close to 30 goals in one season to win both the league’s top scorer and best player awards.

That breakthrough earned him a move to Aigle Royal Menoua in Cameroon’s top division before he later secured a transfer to Finnish side RoPS Rovaniemi in 2017.

Eze’s performances in Finland soon attracted Austrian club Sturm Graz, who signed him in August 2017. He helped the club finish second in the Austrian Bundesliga and win the Austrian Cup during the 2017-18 season, the first major trophy of his career.

After loan spells and difficult periods, he rebuilt his career in Turkey with Ankara Keçiörengücü, where he scored 13 goals during the 2021-22 campaign. That form earned him a move to Eyüpspor before later spells with İstanbulspor and Pendikspor followed.

Now, after years of moving through different clubs and divisions, Eze is finally preparing for a permanent return to the Turkish Süper Lig with Çorum FK. And waiting for him there could be Nigerian football’s biggest star, Victor Osimhen.