Leão thanks Osimhen for allowing him to take penalty

Politics Spice Special Features Education Sex & Relationship Interview Columns Opinion Advertise with us Leão thanks Osimhen for allowing him to take penalty Sports October 31, 2026 9:11 pm Victor Osimhen

Galatasaray forward, Rafael Leão, has thanked Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, for allowing him to take a penalty during the club’s 4-0 victory over Konyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig on Friday.

Leão scored his first goal for the Turkish champions after Osimhen handed him the opportunity to convert a second-half spot-kick, despite being the club’s regular penalty taker.

The gesture came a day after Osimhen and his partner welcomed their second daughter, Liora Audrey, on Thursday.

Osimhen had earlier opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a header, dedicating the goal to his newborn daughter through his celebration.

Speaking after the match on Galatasaray’s official YouTube channel, Leão revealed that he had encouraged the Nigerian striker to score twice in celebration of the birth of his child.

“Yesterday was the birth of his second child. So I told him, ‘You should score two goals today.’ He could have scored the second goal, but he gave me the ball,” the Portuguese international said.

Leão described Osimhen’s decision as a reflection of the strong team spirit within the Galatasaray dressing room.

“It’s about this kind of attitude. We have a great group, so I’m really happy to have this kind of teammates in the squad,” he added.

The former AC Milan winger also expressed appreciation for Osimhen’s generosity, admitting that the penalty meant a lot to him after waiting to open his goalscoring account for the club.

“I’m very grateful to him. He knows how much I struggled for that goal. I just want to give them back my quality and enjoy my game,” Leão said.

Osimhen’s decision allowed Leão to convert the penalty and make it 4-0, capping a memorable evening for the Portuguese forward.

The Nigerian striker’s contribution also made the occasion special, as he combined his goalscoring performance with a personal celebration following the arrival of his second daughter.

The victory further strengthened Galatasaray’s position in the Turkish Super Lig as the club continues its domestic campaign under manager Okan Buruk.

Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.

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