Royale Union Saint-Gilloise’s Mohammed Fuseini reflects on debut European goal

In a thrilling moment for both Mohammed Fuseini (22) and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, the young Ghanaian forward scored his first-ever goal in the UEFA Europa League, leading his team to a crucial 1-0 victory against FC Twente.

This win marked Saint-Gilloise's first in the league phase of the Europa League stage of the tournament, propelling them into playoff contention and significantly boosting their confidence as they aim for further success.

Before matchday five, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise had experienced a challenging start in the Europa League, with two draws and two losses. The absence of Fuseini was felt keenly during this period, as he missed the first two matches of the competition due to a red card received in the qualifiers.

The three points away at FC Twente was one that brought relief to Saint-Gilloise who desperately needed a win to get their European campaign on track.

“I was really excited and happy with the team to get our first win in the Europa League. This was an important game for us and you could see at the end the excitement on everyone's faces,” Fuseini revealed in an exclusive interview with Flashscore.

Having previously played six matches in the Europa League with Sturm Graz and Saint-Gilloise without finding the net, this goal represents a significant breakthrough for Fuseini.

For the forward, scoring in Europe was an emotional milestone. “I felt so emotional when I saw the ball going into the net. At the end I was also a bit disappointed because I felt I could have scored more goals.”

This win not only serves as a morale booster but also places Saint-Gilloise in a favourable position as they look towards qualifying for the playoffs. The team now aims to approach each upcoming match with renewed optimism, as Fuseini noted.

“Yes, I think this win is going to boost our confidence going into every game with the mindset of winning and we definitely think there is a chance for us to qualify for the playoffs.”

As he reflects on his performance this season, Fuseini is optimistic about his trajectory. The former Sturm Graz forward joined Les Unionistes for a fee in the region of two million euros last summer.

With five goals already under his belt in all competitions, he currently stands as Saint-Gilloise's top scorer.

“For me personally I think it is really going well because I feel like there is more room for improvement and the season is still long. I want to get double figures at the end of the season,” he stated confidently.

Fuseini's ambitions align well with Saint-Gilloise's aspirations in the Europa League. Following their recent performance against FC Twente, he believes that they have what it takes to challenge any team they face in the league phase.

“From the performance of yesterday, I think we have what it takes to beat any of the teams we have to face in the league phase of the Europa League.”

Saint-Gilloise will conclude the first stage of the Europa League with two home games against Nice and Braga, and then travel to Rangers for the final matchday.