Galatasaray’s draw against Corum exposes key flaw that ₦44bn-rated Nigerian star can solve

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen scored a brace in Galatasaray’s opening game of the Turkish Süper Lig season against Çorum, but the champions were held to a 2-2 draw, Afrik-Foot reports.

​After a goalless first half, the Cimbom broke the deadlock courtesy of Osimhen in the 53rd minute. The visitors quickly fired back, however, through Alexandros Kyziridis and Jesús Ramírez.

Osimhen later rescued a point for his side by netting his second, but despite a late onslaught, Galatasaray failed to find a winner and had to settle for a share of the spoils.

​The result is a major upset. As reigning Süper Lig champions equipped with superior quality, Galatasaray were heavily favored against the newly promoted side.

​Furthermore, the draw exposed underlying vulnerabilities that have plagued Galatasaray since the tail end of last season — issues that could be resolved by the addition of another Nigerian star.

​The Failure to Exploit Victor Osimhen’s Quality

​Victor Osimhen scored twice, but he likely would have added to his tally had he received better service.

​While the Nigerian has continually proven himself to be a prolific goalscorer, his teammates appeared overly eager to secure personal glory.

Barış Alper Yılmaz, Yunus Akgün, and Leroy Sané, in particular, frequently held onto the ball too long during attacking sequences, ignoring Osimhen even when he was unmarked.

​Instead of looking to feed the striker, Sané and Akgün repeatedly cut inside from the wings to take speculative shots of their own.

​The Key Problem a Nigerian Star Can Easily Solve

​While Çorum’s first goal could be chalked up to an individual moment of brilliance from Kyziridis, the second stemmed from a glaring error by Davinson Sánchez.

​As the last man back, Sánchez was the favorite to reach a long ball, but his botched back-pass allowed Ramírez to capitalize, race toward goal, and beat Uğurcan Çakır with a chipped finish.

​For much of the match, Galatasaray looked alarmingly shaky whenever Çorum counterattacked. The newly promoted side could easily have scored more had they been more clinical in front of goal.

​It is important to note that, this defensive fragility is not a new development. Galatasaray have shown signs of instability at the back since the conclusion of the previous campaign, conceding seven goals across their final three games of the 2025/26 season.

This porous form bled into pre-season, where they shipped 11 goals in five matches against Ümraniyespor, Monza, Venezia, and Rennes, failing to keep a single clean sheet.

​Addressing this issue requires both tactical restructuring and personnel changes. While Abdülkerim Bardakcı is a legend at Rams Park, he may no longer be the ideal partner to help the club reach its lofty ambitions. Similarly, Sánchez, despite his grit, is prone to costly lapses in concentration.

​Enter Calvin Bassey

​The defensive reinforcement who could solve these problems for the Cimbom is Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey.

​The 26-year-old Fulham star has established himself as one of the standout defenders in the English Premier League over recent seasons.

Bassey fits the Galatasaray profile seamlessly: he is fast, comfortable with the ball at his feet, technically sound, dominant in the air, and exceptionally consistent—offering a potent mix of football IQ and physical dominance.

​His acquisition is made even more appealing by his valuation of €28 million (approximately ₦44 billion). With just one year remaining on his contract, Fulham are unlikely to demand an exorbitant fee.

​Additionally, Bassey boasts continental experience from his previous stints in Scotland and the Netherlands, meaning adaptation to Turkish football should be seamless. To top it all off, he has an impressive injury record.

​Securing the signature of the Nigerian defender would represent astute business for the reigning Turkish champions, potentially serving as the difference-maker in their title defense.