Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen sent a timely warning to Gabon, ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers playoffs against Gabon later this month with a hattrick for Galatasaray in their 3-0 win over Ajax in the UEFA Champions League. Gabon will be Nigeria’s first opponent in the mini-tournament in Morocco on the 13th of November, and Osimhen sent a timely warning with an open play goal sandwiched between two penalty goals.
He showed his predatory instincts with his first goal in the 59th minute, before increasing his tally six minutes after the hour mark from the spot. His hattrick was completed in the 78th minute from the spot as well.
It was his sixth goal in the competition this season in the tournament after his goal against Liverpool, a brace against Molde before his hattrick today against the Dutch giants at their home ground in Amsterdam.
It is the first time the Nigeria international would be scoring three goals in a game in the competition or European football in his career. Osimhen is the first Galatasaray player to score a hat-trick in the Champions League in 13 years.
“Victor Osimhen, who scored three goals in a match for the first time in his European cup career (vs Ajax), also became the first player to score a hat-trick in the European arena with @GalatasaraySK jersey since Burak Yılmaz (November 2012 v Cluj). It can’t be stopped,” OptaCan wrote on X after the game.
The former African footballer of the year has now scored 11 goals in only eight European matches for the Turkish champions. With his three goals against Ajax, the 26-year-old is leading the scorers chart with six goals, followed by Erling Haaland and Harry Kane who both have five goals each.
