SportsNews
Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen grabs Besiktas Emirhan Topçu by the thrōat after he called the Nigerian striker a black monkey
Aheated confrontation between Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen and Besiktas defender Emirhan Topcu overshadowed Saturday’s highly anticipated Istanbul derby, as Galatasaray and Besiktas played to a 1-1 draw at RAMS Park in the eighth week of Türkiye’s Super League.
The incident occurred in the 40th minute when Osimhen went down following a challenge from Topcu on the right flank. When the referee signaled for a throw-in rather than awarding the foul Osimhen expected, tensions erupted between the two players.
Osimhen, visibly agitated, approached Topcu in an aggressive manner before teammates intervened to restore order. The confrontation escalated to include multiple players, with Besiktas goalkeeper Mert Gunok joining the fray. The situation was eventually defused through the efforts of Galatasaray midfielder Orkun Kokcu and other players who stepped in to separate the combatants.
Besiktas supporters arrive in force for away derby
The match drew significant crowd support from both sides, with approximately 1,500 Besiktas supporters making the journey from their home stadium Tupras Stadium to RAMS Park aboard 30 chartered buses. The away fans, who gathered hours before kickoff under heavy security measures, completely filled their designated section of the stadium.
Besiktas had taken an early lead through Tammy Abraham’s 12th-minute strike, but the visitors were unable to maintain their advantage as tensions rose following their goal.
Victor Osimhen (45) of Galatasaray faces off with a player of Besiktas during Turkish Super Lig week 8 football match between Galatasaray and Besiktas at RAMS Park in Istanbul, Türkiye on Oct. 4, 2025. (AA Photo)
Former international criticizes tactical approach and officiating
The 1-1 result extended Besiktas’s unbeaten away record this season, though both of their league defeats have come on the road. The draw lifted Besiktas to 13 points in the league standings.
Former Turkish international and prominent sports commentator Nihat Kahveci criticized the match officials’ handling of the Osimhen-Topcu incident during post-game analysis.
“Why can’t we watch the replay of the Osimhen and Emirhan Topcu situation again? They’re grabbing each other by the throat there, let’s watch the replay,” Kahveci said.
Questions remain over defensive mentality in high-stakes matches
Kahveci also offered pointed criticism of Besiktas’s tactical approach, suggesting the team retreated too defensively despite playing against ten men for a portion of the match.
“I don’t know if coach Sergen wants this or if the players are getting into this mentality psychologically. This happened in the Kocaelispor match too — Besiktas pulled back,” Kahveci said. “Galatasaray played good football with 10 men. Besiktas, in a very strange way, couldn’t make anyone feel that they were playing 11 against 10 — not the Galatasaray team, not us watching, not any spectator in the stands.”
The draw maintains the competitive balance in one of Turkish football’s most storied rivalries, though questions remain about both teams’ tactical approaches in high-stakes matches.
At least 25 players in the Premier League are set to travel for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The tournament is scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Nigeria, Ivory Coast, DR Congo lead the way in terms of players based in the English topflight, with four selected from each club for the AFCON.
FIFA has directed clubs to release the eligible players from Monday, December 15.
Full list of players confirmed
Sunderland (5):
Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo (Mozambique), Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso), Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo).
Manchester United (3):
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco).
Fulham (3):
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria).
Burnley (3):
Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia).
Nottingham Forest (2):
Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast).
Brentford (2):
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria).
Manchester City (1):
Omar Marmoush (Egypt),
West Ham United (1):
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo)
Wolves (2):
Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast).
Brighton & Hove Albion (1):
Carlos Baleba (Cameroon).
Crystal Palace (2):
Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal), Cheick Doucouré (Mali)
Liverpool (1):
Mohammed Salah (Egypt)
The Nigeria National League, NNL, has announced that matchday six fixture between Ranchers Bees and Adamawa United will be played behind closed doors.
The announcement was made in a statement by the league body.
Only the State Football Association representatives, staff of both teams, kit managers and medical personnel will be allowed into the stadium.
Others are the match officials, security personnel and camera men.
The reason for the decision to play the game without club supporters wasn’t stated by the league body.
The encounter will take place at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna on Saturday (today).
Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have taken a fresh hit, with Egypt confirming that the highly anticipated friendly between both nations has been shifted from 14 to 16 December.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the adjustment late Friday, noting that FIFA’s updated international release directive, which allows clubs keep African players until 15 December, made the original date unworkable.
EFA Vice President Khaled El-Darandaly explained that the new rule left both Egypt and Nigeria without full squads for the initial date.
Key Pharaohs players, including Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, are now expected to arrive only after the new release window.
Egypt had already named its 28-man provisional squad and opened camp in Cairo, with head coach Hossam Hassan accelerating final preparations for a Group B campaign that includes South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.
Nigeria’s disruption is more extensive. The Super Eagles were originally scheduled to open camp on 10 December and progress through a streamlined friendly schedule before departing for Morocco. That entire framework has now been dismantled.
Under the revised timeline, camp will open on 14 December, leaving Eric Chelle with barely a week to prepare before AFCON kicks off.
The venue for the friendly is also now uncertain, with Cairo no longer feasible and both federations considering shifting the match to Morocco.
Nigeria’s build-up has been further destabilised by injuries to Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi, Benjamin Fredrick and Felix Agu.
The shock retirement of captain William Troost-Ekong, winner of the 2023 AFCON Player of the Tournament award, creates an additional leadership vacuum in defence.
Chelle, who released a 55-man provisional list, must now trim his squad to 28 within a compressed window. Nigeria will compete in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania as they chase a fourth continental title.
The man who tackled a gunman to the floor and saved people from getting sh0t at Bondi Beach in Australia has been identified as Ahmed al Ahmed.
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