Bright Osayi-Samuel cautioned after recent red card

Former Fenerbahçe star Ali Bilgin has advised Nigerian defender Bright Osayi-Samuel to manage his emotions better after the Super Eagles fullback received the first red card of his career during Fenerbahçe’s 2-1 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise in the UEFA Europa League. The incident occurred during the match held at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium on Thursday night, as reported by Soccernet.ng.

Osayi-Samuel, who had recently returned from injury after missing four league games, began the game on the bench. He was introduced in the 65th minute with Fenerbahçe leading 1-0, replacing Mert Müldür. The Nigerian defender made an immediate impact, playing a crucial role in Fenerbahçe’s second goal. His powerful shot was parried by Union SG goalkeeper Anthony Moris, and the rebound was unfortunately turned into the net by defender Christian Burgess, giving Fenerbahçe a two-goal cushion.

However, the game took a dramatic turn for Osayi-Samuel in the closing stages. After receiving a yellow card for time-wasting in the 87th minute, he conceded a foul inside the penalty area just minutes later. The foul resulted in a penalty for Union Saint-Gilloise and a second yellow card for Osayi-Samuel, leading to his dismissal. Union SG’s Ross James Sykes converted the penalty in stoppage time to make it 2-1, but Fenerbahçe held on to secure the victory.

Ali Bilgin, 42, acknowledged Osayi-Samuel’s significant contribution to the team but stressed the importance of emotional control on the pitch.

“Osayi-Samuel’s return from injury showed how valuable and important he is for the team,” Bilgin remarked, as per Yenimesaj. “But receiving two yellow cards in 20 minutes and getting sent off shows he needs to control himself better.”

Despite the red card, Osayi-Samuel’s return is a timely boost for both Fenerbahçe and Nigeria’s Super Eagles, as interim manager Austin Eguavoen looks to include him in the upcoming double-header against Libya. The defender had missed Nigeria’s recent matches against the Benin Republic and Rwanda due to injury, but his recovery strengthens the squad ahead of these crucial fixtures.