Victor Olatunji is strongly positioning himself for a call-up to the Nigerian national team following a remarkable display in Sparta Prague’s 2-1 away win against Sigma Olomouc in the Czech Republic’s top division.
The towering striker was pivotal to Sparta’s success, scoring the decisive goal in a hard-fought encounter at Andruv Stadium.
With Olomouc looking to secure a draw after Filip Zorvan equalised to cancel Jan Kuchta’s opening goal, Olatunji emerged as the game-changer, firing home the winner in the 87th minute.
Managing to control a well-placed cross from Jaroslav Zeleny, the former Slovan Liberec player shrugged off his defender and sent a low shot past the advancing goalkeeper Jan Koutny, celebrating with Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic pose.
This victory marks Sparta Prague’s sixth consecutive win across all competitions, a streak that began on February 2 with a 2-0 away triumph over Slovacko.
“It’s not easy facing teams like Sigma. We are familiar with them from previous encounters. Although we lost the first match against them, we always have faith that a good performance will lead to a favourable outcome,” shared the 25-year-old on the club’s website.
Reflecting on his goal, he added: “It was incredible. When I saw the ball coming towards me, I knew I could reach it. At that moment, my aim was simply to get it into the net.”
“I had to seize that chance because opportunities in football are rare; sometimes you only get one. When I noticed the linesman’s flag, I believed it wouldn’t be offside. Fortunately, the referee validated it. I was nervous because I didn’t want us to lose or settle for a draw. Thankfully, it was confirmed as a valid goal.”
This outcome not only boosts morale but also closes the gap between Sparta Prague and league leaders Slavia Prague to 10 points as they strive to defend their title from last season.
Olatunji’s exceptional performance has placed him firmly in the conversation for a spot in Eric Chelle’s squad, particularly given his impressive form during the 2024/25 season at the Czech club, which has included noteworthy moments in the UEFA Champions League.
In a standout 3-0 victory over RB Salzburg, he became the first Nigerian to both score and assist on his Champions League debut, although his team was unable to progress to the knockout phase.
His skillset could provide a significant boost to the Super Eagles’ attacking options as they aim to revive their chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Sparta Prague will continue their title challenge with a crucial match against Slavia Prague next Saturday; however, Olatunji will miss this fixture due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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