Osimhen: 3 reasons Fenerbahçe boss Kartal is wrong to question Galatasaray star’s character

Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen scored twice to fire Galatasaray to a 2-1 Turkish Super Lig victory over Fenerbahçe in Monday’s Istanbul derby.

However, Fenerbahçe manager İsmail Kartal chose to focus on the Nigeria international striker’s celebrations after the final whistle.

Osimhen struck in the 29th and 44th minutes at RAMS Park to give Galatasaray a two-goal lead. Fenerbahçe pulled one back, but the hosts held on to claim the bragging rights and return to the top of the Süper Lig table.

What Kartal said

After the match, Kartal accused Osimhen of disrespecting Fenerbahçe’s players and supporters.

“Victor Osimhen is a very good player, energetic and a very good striker, but he lacks character,” Kartal said at the post-match press conference.

“A player of his level is supposed to be a role model for younger ones. He scored twice and started disrespecting Fenerbahçe fans and our players.

“That’s unsportsmanlike behaviour and should never be encouraged. The opposition are filled with emotions and acting like that towards them is insensitive.”

However, there are three reasons why the Fenerbahçe manager’s criticism misses the mark.

1. Celebrating a derby victory is not a lack of character

Osimhen plays with plenty of emotion, and his celebrations often mirror his passion for the game. Scoring twice against Galatasaray’s fiercest rivals makes that reaction understandable.

Kartal can take issue with particular gestures if he believes they crossed the line, but that does not justify questioning the Nigerian star’s character.

Osimhen, one of Africa’s finest, has undiluted love for Galatasaray and this is not the first time he is seen celebrating passionately with the RAMS Park faithfuls. That passion cannot be, in any way, interpreted to mean a deliberate disrespect of Galatasaray’s opponent.

2. Fenerbahçe failed to stop Galatasaray striker

More importantly than targeting Osimhen, Kartal has to answer for his side’s defensive display.

Osimhen opened the scoring in the 29th minute after a pass from Barış Alper Yılmaz, then doubled Galatasaray’s lead a few minutes before half-time from a Davinson Sánchez shot.

Fenerbahçe had no answer to the Nigerian in the first half, and his two goals proved decisive. Knocking his celebrations does not change the fact that the visitors failed to contain him when it mattered most.

Kartal has more pressing questions to answer about how his defence went to sleep and allowed Osimhen to score twice in 15 minutes.

3. Osimhen has earned respect through his performances

Born in the slums of Lagos before beating all odds to rise to the top of world football, the Nigerian is already a source of inspiration for young players.

His work rate, determination and goalscoring record made him a favourite of millions of fans from the street of Naples to the parks in Istanbul.

Kartal is right that players of Osimhen’s stature should set a good example. But that does not mean they must hide their emotions in a fiercely contested derby.

Even Fenerbahçe president Ali Koç has previously praised Osimhen’s quality, describing him as a player whose level is above that of the Turkish league.

Osimhen’s celebrations may divide opinion, but Kartal’s claim that the striker lacks character goes too far. If the Fenerbahçe manager believes specific actions were disrespectful, he should explain what crossed the line rather than question the personality of a player who punished his team on the pitch.