Osimhen: Super Eagles star defends Güvenç after costly error in Galatasaray Cup exit

Victor Osimhen has publicly backed his teammate Günay Güvenç after a difficult night that saw Galatasaray crash out of the Turkish Cup, Afrik-Foot reports.

The defending champions suffered a surprise 2-0 defeat to Gençlerbirliği in the quarter-final on April 22, 2026, at Rams Park. It was a result few expected, especially with Galatasaray dominating large parts of the game.

Despite enjoying most of the ball and creating chances, the home side could not find a breakthrough. Instead, it was Gençlerbirliği who struck first in the 51st minute. Fıratcan Üzüm reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the box and finished calmly to give the visitors the lead.

Galatasaray pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but their efforts lacked sharpness in the final third. Their hopes of a comeback were then ended in the 83rd minute when Adama Traoré scored the second goal.

That goal, however, came with controversy and disappointment. Goalkeeper Günay Güvenç made a costly error, misjudging the situation and allowing Traoré to double the advantage. It proved to be the decisive moment of the match.

Osimhen, who had been out injured since March after picking up an arm injury against Liverpool, made his return in the 78th minute. He came on for Renato Nhaga and played around 12 minutes, but he could not turn the game around in such a short time.

Güvenç’s painful night and Osimhen’s support

The final whistle brought emotional scenes at Rams Park. Güvenç, who had been under pressure after his mistake, faced strong reactions from the home crowd. He was booed and whistled by some fans, and the situation clearly affected him.

The experienced goalkeeper was seen in tears on the pitch after the game, struggling to deal with both the result and the criticism.

Shortly after the match, the Nigerian striker shared a message on Instagram in support of his teammate.

In what is aimed at protecting Güvenç and bringing the squad together after a painful defeat, Osimhen wrote:

“We stand with Günay Güvenç. A single moment doesn’t define a player. Mistakes are part of football. It can never outweigh the effort, commitment, and passion he brings to the team.

“Football is a game of highs and lows, what truly matters is how we respond and how we support each other through those moments.

“To our fans thank you for the support.”

Galatasaray focus shifts to the title race

With the Turkish Cup now gone, Galatasaray must quickly turn their attention back to the Süper Lig title race.

Their next match is a huge one, the Intercontinental Derby against Fenerbahçe on April 26 at Rams Park. It could decide the direction of the title.

Galatasaray currently lead the table with 71 points, while Fenerbahçe are second with 67. A win would open a seven-point gap with only three matches left, putting Galatasaray in a very strong position to secure their 26th league title.

Osimhen is expected to play a key role in that match. After getting some minutes against Gençlerbirliği, he is likely to return to the starting line-up as he regains full fitness.

The reigning champions will also face Samsunspor, Antalyaspor, and Kasımpaşa in their final games of the season.