Gift Orban overtakes Victor Osimhen in Turkish Super Lig Golden Boot race

Gift Orban contests for the ball in the air vs Davinson Sanchez

Gift Orban has moved ahead of compatriot Victor Osimhen in the Turkish Super Lig Golden Boot race after finding the net in Amedspor’s thrilling 4-3 defeat to Galatasaray away from home comforts.

The Nigerian forward continued his impressive goalscoring form despite his team’s disappointing result, taking his tally to double figures with a second-half header at the end of a difficult afternoon against the league champions.

Orban, who joined Amedspor on loan during the summer transfer window, struggled to make a significant impact before the break but eventually found his opportunity after the restart.

The former Lyon striker reacted quickly inside the box to meet a well-delivered cross from substitute Furkan Soyalp, guiding his close-range header beyond Galatasaray goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir to register his 10th league goal of the campaign.

The strike took Orban’s contribution to 10 goals and five assists in 11 Turkish Super Lig appearances since the start of the season in August, underlining his importance to Amedspor’s attacking ambitions.

More significantly, the goal lifted him above Osimhen in the league’s scoring standings, giving him the advantage over his Super Eagles teammate in the early battle for the Golden Boot.

Osimhen was unavailable for Galatasaray’s encounter with Amedspor after undergoing knee surgery, following an injury sustained during the club’s UEFA Champions League victory over Bundesliga side Stuttgart.

The former Napoli striker has also enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign, registering nine goals and three assists in just eight league appearances before his injury setback.

While Osimhen’s absence provided Orban with an opportunity to move ahead in the scoring race, the Galatasaray forward will be eager to return to action and reclaim his position once he recovers.

Meanwhile, Orban was not the only Nigerian to make an impact for Amedspor, as Yira Sor also got his name on the scoresheet after coming off the bench.

The forward replaced Senegalese striker Mbaye Diagne in the second half and made his opportunity count, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner after a rebound fell kindly for him inside the penalty area.

Sor’s late contribution gave Amedspor another goal in an entertaining contest, although it was not enough to prevent Galatasaray from securing a 4-3 victory.

Despite the defeat, Orban’s latest strike further strengthened his position among the Super Lig’s leading scorers, while Sor also provided another reminder of the Nigerian attacking quality within Amedspor’s ranks.