Nigerian forward Henry Onyekuru has responded after being left out of the Gençlerbirliği squad ahead of their upcoming Turkish Süper Lig clash against Galatasaray on Saturday , according to a report by Fanatik.

The decision, taken by head coach Volkan Demirel, sparked widespread discussion in the build-up to the match scheduled to take place at the Eryaman Stadium in Ankara.

Onyekuru, a former Galatasaray player, had featured in the starting lineup in the club’s previous two matches but was surprisingly omitted from the squad for the high-profile encounter.

Demirel addressed the situation during a press briefing at the club’s training facilities, explaining that his selection decisions were based strictly on performance and professional assessment.

The coach stated that he evaluates all players based on contractual and sporting considerations and retains full responsibility for squad decisions.

He added that while Onyekuru remains an important member of the team with a year left on his contract, his recent performances did not meet expectations.

Demirel further explained that although the Nigerian forward delivered a positive display in an earlier match, he was not satisfied with his performance in the subsequent fixture against Başakşehir.

He noted that internal evaluations and reports had been misinterpreted publicly, which he said was negatively affecting both the player and the club.

The coach maintained that he would continue to support Onyekuru if his performances improve.

In response, Onyekuru took to Instagram shortly after the coach’s remarks, posting a black screen image with the message “Thank you, coach,” accompanied by an applause emoji. The brief post has been widely interpreted as a reaction to his omission.

Wale Adejumo