Nigerian striker Victor Olatunji made a stunning debut in the UEFA Champions League, playing a pivotal role in Sparta Prague’s 3-0 victory over Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday. Olatunji not only scored a goal but also provided an assist, marking an impressive entrance into the tournament.
He netted Sparta Prague’s second goal in the 42nd minute and later assisted Qazim Laçi in the 58th minute, contributing to the team’s third goal. Olatunji’s debut places him among a select group of African players who have both scored and assisted in their first Champions League appearance. According to football statistics platform Opta Joe, he is the third African player and the first Nigerian to achieve this feat, joining the ranks of Daniel Cousin (Rangers vs. Lyon, 2007) and Serge Aurier (PSG vs. Shakhtar Donetsk, 2015).
In celebration of his goal, Olatunji lifted his jersey to reveal an undershirt emblazoned with the phrase, “I am a Chosen, who are you?” This message references a recent viral trend on social media, which has sparked discussions and parodies. The trend emerged following the circulation of testimony videos from members of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries.
While the videos gained popularity online, the church’s leadership has since denied that they accurately represent their testimonies, asserting that some clips have been altered or taken out of context to mock their beliefs. They clarified that the testimonies were based on personal experiences and urged caution regarding misleading content shared online.
