“I knew there’d be anger against me” – Super Eagles star reveals reasons for taunting Fenerbahce fans

The Nigeria international returned to Turkey in the summer after a less-than-impressive year-long stint in Greece with Olympiakos

Super Eagles forward Henry Onyekuru has confessed that he intentionally taunted Fenerbahce fans during a clash with Adana Demirspor in August.

Fenerbahce hosted Adana Demirspor at the Ülker Stadyumu Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Spor Kompleksi in İstanbul in a gameweek three fixture of the Turkish Super Lig on August 22.

Fener won the encounter 4-2, with Onyekuru drawing the penalty for Adana’s first goal and providing the assist to the other.

But the Nigerian forward endured boos and jeers from the home crowd long before his contributions to the visitors’ cause.

In return, Onyekuru made a crying gesture to the Fenerbahce supporters, which infuriated the mass the more.

During an interview with Milliyet, Onyekuru explained why he reacted that way.

The Nigeria international said he knew that the Fenerbahce fans would come angrily at him in that encounter.

Onyekuru revealed he knew he had not been forgiven for the role he played in helping Galatasaray beat Fenerbahce in 2020, ending the Yellow-Reds’ 20-year winless run in the home of their fierce rivals.

The former Monaco man insists he bore the insults well and only reacted when the fans aimed worse abuse at his family.

“I knew when I started the match that I would face reactions for the goal I scored while playing in Galatasaray, which ended Fenerbahçe’s 20-year unbeaten streak,” Onyekuru said.

“I knew that there would be anger against me because of this.

“I am not one to react to such events when I go out on the field. On the contrary, this situation motivates me more. It’s a situation.

“I got past the insult, and when this was done to my family, my mother, my father, and my children, I also reacted.”

There was no such bad blood between Onyekuru and Galatasaray supporters when the Super Eagles forward and Adana Demirspor hosted his former club on the first of October.

Onyekuru spent three loan spells with Gala winning the league and cup double with the club in his first year there.

And the former Everton signing admits he was filled with emotions during the clash that ended in a stalemate.

“I felt different emotions during the Galatasaray match,” Onyekuru added.

“I went there as an Adana Demirspor player and struggled. I played in Galatasaray in three different periods and won the championship.”

In seven games against Fenerbahce, Henry Onyekuru has two goals and three assists.