Trabzonspor's technical staff is facing a critical decision regarding Nigerian defender Chibuike Nwaiwu ahead of the Galatasaray derby. The Super Lig club, currently fourth in the table with 7 points, will play away against Konyaspor on Saturday.
According to a report by A Spor, the 23-year-old center-back is on the yellow card suspension limit in the league. If he receives another yellow card in this weekend's match, he will be suspended for the following week's derby against Galatasaray. This situation has forced the coaching team to consider alternatives.
What does Nwaiwu's situation mean?
Chibuike Nwaiwu has been a regular feature in the team's defensive line during the early weeks of the season. The player, who stands out with his physical strength and tackling abilities in central defense, is walking a tightrope with the yellow cards he has accumulated so far. The Nigerian defender's absence could be particularly felt in a major match like the Galatasaray derby.
The manager and his assistants must choose between risking Nwaiwu in the Konyaspor match or resting him to have a full squad ready for the derby. As can be seen on our standings page showing the team's current league position, Trabzonspor is 3 points behind leaders Galatasaray. Therefore, taking points from both matches is of great importance.
Who could be the alternative in defense?
If Nwaiwu does not play or receives a card and gets suspended, Samet Akaydin emerges as the closest alternative in central defense. The experienced defender has earned minutes both in the league and cup since the start of the season. The defensive system Akaydin would form with Nwaiwu or with a different partner is one of the scenarios the technical team is working on.
The team's defensive performance has been noteworthy overall this season. Trabzonspor has conceded four goals in four matches while scoring nine, giving them a +5 goal difference. These statistics can be examined in detail on our stats page. Defensive discipline is one of the fundamental keys to earning points, especially in away matches.
How are preparations for the Galatasaray derby progressing?
The Konyaspor match has become part of the derby preparations. The team wants to field the best possible lineup both this weekend and in the derby. The situation of players at risk of yellow cards is a factor that directly affects match tactics.
Trabzonspor's next official match will be against Kocaelispor on December 20, 2026. All details for this fixture can be found on our fixtures page. However, the primary objective is to take points from Konyaspor and then focus on the Galatasaray derby. The team's WLWD form from the last four matches shows they are ready for these challenging tests.
The technical team will announce its final decision regarding Nwaiwu's situation on the last day of training. The player's physical and mental readiness for the derby will be among the determining factors in the decision to be made. Samet Akaydin has stated he is prepared for either scenario.
