Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel has opened up about the sense of injustice felt at Fenerbahçe after the club finished second to Galatasaray, despite amassing a staggering 99 points during the 2023/24 Süper Lig season, Soccernet.ng reports.
The rivalry between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe remains one of the most intense in world football. As bitter crosstown rivals, the two have historically dominated Turkish football, sharing 44 Süper Lig titles between them.
However, Galatasaray has outshone their rivals in recent years. While The Cimbom have secured the title six times in the last eleven years, the Yellow Canaries have not tasted league glory since the 2013/14 season.
Milan Skriniar L , Archie Brown 3 of Fenerbahce and Victor Osimhen 45 battle for the ball (Photo by: ImagoxSeskimphoto)
The 2023/24 campaign was particularly heartbreaking; despite the league consisting of 38 matchdays, Fenerbahçe lost only once all season—winning 31 games and drawing six. Even with a 99-point haul, they fell short of Galatasaray, who finished with a record-breaking 102 points.
At the time, then-Fenerbahçe manager İsmail Kartal attributed the title loss to factors beyond the pitch.
”We couldn’t overcome the invisible hands off the field,” Kartal said at a press conference that season.
“Ninety-nine points and 99 goals—these earned points will not be forgotten by the Fenerbahçe community. My players showed that they are the real champions. Everyone saw that we are the champions of hearts.”
Osayi-Samuel Echoes Kartal’s Claims
Bright Osayi Samuel L at Fenerbahce [Photo credit/Imago]
In a recent interview reflecting on his four-year stint in Istanbul, Osayi-Samuel admitted he shared his former coach’s frustrations. He revealed that while the players performed to the best of their abilities, they felt undermined by officiating and the Süper Lig system.
”I had heard about the injustices done to Fenerbahçe in the league before joining the team,” Osayi-Samuel said.
“But that season with İsmail Kartal made me think, ‘Okay, I can see for myself what the club is talking about.’ It was a truly bizarre situation for a club to get 99 points, lose only once, and still not win the league.”
He continued: “I think this had never happened before. I could understand what the president and the club were saying about the referees and the system. As players, we had to keep playing because we couldn’t change those factors. It didn’t affect my individual game, but I understood the club’s perspective.”
Bright Osayi-Samuel challenges for a ball at Birmingham City (Photo credit: Birmingham City X)
Osayi-Samuel later Fenerbahçe for the English Championship last summer. So far this season, he has featured in 26 games for his new club, contributing one assist.
Meanwhile, Osayi-Samuel’s former club Fenerbahce is set to go another season without the Super Lig title. They suffered an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Galatasaray in the Istanbul derby on Sunday, and that means that the Cimbom need one more win to claim their fourth league title in a row.
