Former Fenerbahçe star Ali Bilgin has called on Nigerian defender Bright Osayi-Samuel to manage his emotions better after the Super Eagles fullback picked up the first red card of his career during Fenerbahçe's 2-1 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise, Soccernet.ng reports.
The match, which opened Fenerbahçe's UEFA Europa League campaign, was held at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium on Thursday night.
Osayi-Samuel, recently returning from injury, started the game on the bench but was introduced in the second half with Fenerbahçe leading by a single goal.
The Nigerian defender had missed four league matches due to injury but came on in the 65th minute, replacing Mert Müldür.
His return was impactful but marred by a lack of discipline.
Osayi-Samuel played a key role in Fenerbahçe's second goal, as his powerful shot from inside the area was parried by Union SG goalkeeper Anthony Moris, only for defender Christian Burgess to knock the rebound into his own net, doubling the Turkish side's lead.
However, Osayi-Samuel's night took a turn for the worse in the closing stages.
After receiving a yellow card for time-wasting in the 87th minute, he committed a foul in the box just minutes later, resulting in a penalty and a red card.
Union SG's Ross James Sykes converted the spot-kick in stoppage time to reduce the deficit, but Fenerbahçe held on for the win.
Ali Bilgin, 42, acknowledged Osayi-Samuel's value to the team but urged the defender to maintain composure.
“What was pleasing was that Osayi-Samuel's return from injury reflected how beneficial and important he is for the team. Of course, the fact that he received two yellow cards in 20 minutes and was sent off showed that he needed to control himself,” Bilgin remarked as per Yenimesaj.
Despite the red card, Osayi-Samuel's return is a timely boost for both Fenerbahçe and Super Eagles interim manager Austin Eguavoen, who will rely on the defender for Nigeria’s upcoming double-header against Libya.
Having missed recent matches against the Benin Republic and Rwanda, Osayi-Samuel's recovery strengthens the national squad ahead of these crucial fixtures.
