Turkey-based Gidado savours facing Fenerbahce stars

Turkey-based Nigerian midfielder Victor Gidado has reflected on his journey from playing football on the streets of New Nyanya in Abuja to sharing the pitch with Fenerbahce stars like Ngolo Kante, Romelu Lukaku and others in the Turkish Super Lig, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The 22-year-old played the full 90 minutes for Gaziantep in their 0-0 home draw against Fenerbahce on Monday, a moment he described as a reminder of how far his career has come.

Gidado signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Gaziantep in January 2026 after joining from Slovenian PrvaLiga side Bravo.

The Nigerian midfielder shared action pictures with Kanté, Ake and Guendouzi while reflecting on his journey.

“A few years ago, I was playing football in the streets of New Nyanya and on some pitches in Abuja. Around those same New Nyanya streets, I would stand outside sports bars watching players like N’Golo Kante, Mason Greenwood, Romelu Lukaku, Nathan Ake, Matteo Guendouzi and the Fenerbahce players on television, wondering what it would feel like to one day play on the big stage or share the same pitch with them,” Gidado posted on X.

“Life has a funny way of turning the things you once watched from a distance into moments you get to live. I’m a testimony of God’s grace.

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“From New Nyanya to Europe. From watching them on TV to competing against them on the pitch.

“For me, this is more than football. It is a reminder to everyone that where you start doesn’t determine where you finish.

“My name is Victor Ntino-Emo Gidado and my journey is still being written.”

While Kante and Guendouzi have been at Fenerbahce before, Lukaku, Ake and Greenwood joined them this summer as the club bolstered their squad to challenge for the league title.

Gidado has made five appearances for Gaziantep this season, adding to the 12 appearances he made after joining the club midway through last season.

After four seasons in Europe, he has five goals and five assists in 87 appearances for the two clubs he has played for so far.