Osimhen Refuses to Celebrate Against Former Club Lille After Scoring for Galatasaray
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen showed respect for his former club, Lille, after scoring for Galatasaray in their 4-2 victory in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, October 21.
Osimhen scored in the 61st minute at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy to help Galatasaray secure an important win.
Instead of celebrating wildly with his teammates, the striker raised his hands and brought them together while facing the Lille supporters.
His reaction was widely seen as a gesture of respect towards the fans who watched him play for the French club during the 2019/20 season.
Although Osimhen has not publicly explained the meaning of his gesture, his decision not to celebrate showed his connection with the club where he made a strong impression in European football.
## Osimhen’s Successful Spell at Lille
Osimhen joined Lille from Belgian club Charleroi in August 2019 after scoring 12 league goals in 25 appearances.
The Nigerian quickly became an important player, using his pace, strength and finishing ability to trouble defenders.
He scored 18 goals and provided four assists in 38 appearances across all competitions during his only season at the club.
His impressive performances attracted interest from several top European clubs, leading to his move to Italian side Napoli in July 2020.
At Napoli, Osimhen continued his rise and played a key role in the club’s Serie A title triumph in the 2022/23 season.
He later joined Galatasaray, initially on loan, before completing a permanent move in 2025.
## Osimhen Helps Galatasaray Secure Victory
Wednesday’s encounter was an exciting contest, with both teams producing goals.
Yunus Akgün gave Galatasaray an early lead before Soriba Diaoune scored twice for Lille. Aleksey Batrakov also found the net as the hosts fought back.
Galatasaray regained control after the break through an own goal before Osimhen scored to make it 4-2.
The Nigerian forward finished a counterattack after receiving a pass from Barış Alper Yılmaz, firing the ball past Lille goalkeeper Berke Özer.
The goal was Osimhen’s first in the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League campaign.
While the goal was important for Galatasaray, his reaction attracted attention because of his history with Lille.
Osimhen’s decision to remain calm rather than celebrate against his former club offered a reminder of the respect footballers can maintain for teams that played an important role in their careers.
