Moment Nigerian footballer, Osayi-Samuel defends teammates against pitch invaders
Nigerian defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel, who plays for Turkish club, Fenerbahçe, was seen knocking a violent pitch invader to the ground during a chaotic on-pitch brawl on Sunday night.
Tension escalated at the end of Fenerbahce’s 3-2 victory over Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig.
Former Manchester United player, Fred, netted two goals in the first half, as Fenerbahce secured the victory with a late 87th-minute goal from Michy Batshuayi.
Fenerbahce players gathered in the middle of the pitch to celebrate their victory when suddenly, a single Trabzonspor fan made his way onto the pitch to taunt them.
A security team swiftly apprehended the individual, who was wearing a mask.
As the situation unfolded, a growing number of Trabzonspor supporters managed to bypass the security staff, causing difficulties in maintaining control.
Video captured the 26-year-old Osayi-Samuel in the midst of the commotion.
A video that went viral on social media captured the Nigerian chasing a fan and landing a punch to his face, causing the masked supporter to fall to the ground.
In another clip, Osayi-Samuel can be seen celebrating when he suddenly noticed a pitch invader.
In the video, he confronted the aggressor, defending himself against a punch and retaliating with one of his own, as a security guard swiftly subdued the unruly fan.
During the incident, Osayi-Samuel had to be held back by his teammates and security as the situation became more intense.
One particular fan was seen brandishing a corner flag as a potential weapon.
According to a report from Mirror UK, the atmosphere became heated as some home supporters resorted to throwing objects onto the pitch, aiming at players, coaches, and referees.
A number of Fenerbahce’s players and staff had hurriedly made their way to the tunnel for safety.
Osayi-Samuel made the move to Fenerbahce from QPR in 2021, following his early career at Blackpool.
The Nigeria international has made 126 appearances for the Turkish team.
Below are pictures captured from the incident that portray the chaotic scenes on the pitch:
