Sparta Prague striker Victor Olatunji etched his name in the history books by becoming the first Nigerian to score in the 2024/2025 UEFA Champions League season.
Olatunji, who was making his debut in the competition, delivered a standout performance, scoring once and assisting another as Sparta cruised to a 3-0 victory over RB Salzburg at the Generali Arena.
Sparta, returning to Europe’s premier competition for the first time in 19 years, made their intentions clear early on. The Czech champions took the lead when Kaan Kairinen pounced on a rebound after Salzburg goalkeeper Janis Blaswich made a save.
Olatunji comes to the fore
Just fourty minutes after Sparta’s opener, Olatunji doubled their lead with a clinical right-footed finish. The Nigerian forward capitalized on a clearance from his teammate Filip Panák, volleying the ball into the bottom-left corner from a tight angle.
It was a goal that showcased his technical ability and poise under pressure, as the striker wasted no time in stamping his authority on the match.
At halftime, Sparta Prague held a commanding 2-0 lead, and Olatunji wasn't done yet.
Thirteen minutes into the second half, the 25-year-old striker turned provider, driving into the box before setting up Qazim Laci, who finished calmly to make it 3-0 and secure the win for the home side.
A record-breaking debut
Olatunji’s contributions were enough to see him make history as the third African player to both score and assist on his UEFA Champions League debut, following in the footsteps of Daniel Cousin (2007 for Rangers) and Serge Aurier (2015 for PSG). Remarkably, he also became the first Nigerian to achieve the feat.
In his 64 minutes on the pitch, Olatunji recorded one shot on target and one off, made 14 touches, and completed 60% of his passes. He also won five of his eight duels, underlining his all-round impact on the game before being substituted.
