Osayi-Samuel opens up about Mourinho, reflects on Fenerbahce v Man Utd and Super Eagles fans

Super Eagles full-back Bright Osayi-Samuel has shared insights on his experiences under renowned manager Jose Mourinho, the recent match between Fenerbahce and Manchester United, and the high expectations of Nigerian fans.

Osayi-Samuel made a late appearance in Nigeria's recent 1-1 draw against Benin, a result that secured the team's qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations  tournament in Morocco, with one match still to play against Rwanda in Uyo.

Ahead of the encounter against Rwanda on Monday, Osayi-Samuel opened up about the challenges and opportunities of working under Mourinho in an interview with Football Fans Tribe.

He described the experience as intense, saying, "He's good. I feel like everyday is like an exam and you have to pass."

He emphasized the high demands placed on players but noted the benefits that come from meeting those expectations.

"Every single day his demands are very high but you reap the rewards at the end. You know we are winning games."

"Yeah, I feel if he likes you then he work on you. I feel that's the main thing to see that the manager has trust in you. I think I am learning a lot from him."

The Nigerian defender, whose contract is set to expire next summer, has been instrumental for Fenerbahce this season, featuring in eleven matches across all competitions, including the Europa League clash against Manchester United.

Reflecting on that match, Osayi-Samuel revealed that he received numerous messages of support from Nigerian fans, which fueled his motivation.

"I had a lot of messages before the game. Definitely I knew they were Nigerians. It gave me more motivation. I wanted to take that game like I was playing with my friends. It is a big platform to show everyone and show Nigerians who don't know much about me how I am as a footballer," he stated.

Despite Nigeria's successful qualification for the upcoming tournament, Osayi-Samuel acknowledged the weight of expectations from fans.

"I think the fans do have high expectations. It is understandable because of the players that we have," he said.

"We have players who are the best players in Africa. Of course, they expect a lot from us, we understand that."

He reminded supporters that African football has evolved, with teams becoming more competitive than in the past.

"They also need to understand that football in Africa is not the same like before.

"The teams now are better than how they were before. For me, there is no complaints, we just take every game and do as much as we can do to win the game," he concluded.

Adeyemi Adewale

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