Nigeria’s rising star Anthony Dennis has followed in the footsteps of compatriot Victor Osimhen by helping to eliminate a former Manchester United manager from the Turkish Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.
Just 24 hours after Osimhen fired Galatasaray to a 2-1 quarterfinal win over José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce with a stunning brace, Dennis delivered a composed and disciplined performance to guide Göztepe past Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s Besiktas with a 3-1 victory in Istanbul on Thursday night.
Solskjær had led Besiktas to an impressive 2-1 league win over Galatasaray last weekend and was hopeful of securing silverware in his debut season with the Turkish giants.
But any hopes of a first trophy quickly faded at the Tüpraş Stadium, where Göztepe looked the sharper and more organised side throughout the encounter.
Besiktas drew first blood through Albanian international Ernest Muçi, but Brazilian striker Rômulo José Cardoso stole the show with a stunning hat-trick to turn the game on its head and book Göztepe’s place in the semifinals.
Dennis, 20, who was part of Nigeria’s provisional squad for March's World Cup qualifiers, stood out in midfield. He was booked in first-half stoppage time but maintained his composure and influence on the game.
Anthony Dennis: Meet Nigeria & Goztepe’s rising gem and Eric Chelle’s youngest Super Eagles call-up
— Soccernet.ng (@soccernet_ng) March 5, 2025
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The defensive midfielder recorded eight wins in 13 duels, made four tackles, one interception, and a crucial block to help protect Göztepe’s backline.
His mature performance, marked by positional discipline and clever decision-making, was key to nullifying Besiktas’ attacking threats and allowed his team to control large spells of the game.
It marks another significant moment in
Dennis’ breakout season, as Göztepe continue their dream run in the Turkish Cup. They will now face Trabzonspor in the semifinals as they seek to reach the final for the first time since 1970.
On the other side of the draw, Osimhen’s Galatasaray will meet Konyaspor, with both semifinal fixtures scheduled for Tuesday, April 21.
With two Nigerian stars shining on the big stages in Turkey, it’s becoming a Cup campaign to remember for Super Eagles hopefuls.
