Samsunspor Advance to UECL Last 16 with 4-0 Thrashing

Mouandilmadji leads Samsunspor to historic win

Samsunspor make history, reaching the UEFA Conference League last 16 for the first time with a 4-0 win over Shkendija (5-0 aggregate).

He got his seventh goal of the competition in added time, tapping home with ease. 

Samsunspor made history by reaching the last 16 of a UEFA competition for the first time, thrashing Shkëndija 4-0 in the UEFA Conference League second leg. The Turkish side won 5-0 on aggregate, having secured a narrow win in North Macedonia last week.

Samsunspor's strong performance put them in control of the tie, and they finished the job with a convincing victory at home. Their progression marks a milestone in the club's history.

The task ahead of the visitors was always going to be tough, given their poor away record in UEFA tournaments. They've yet to win a game or score a goal on the road in the main draw, but they started this match with plenty of energy and endeavour.

Despite the initial push, they struggled to create quality chances, lacking a cutting edge in the final third. Fahd Ndzengue was one of the bright spots, forcing Okan Kocuk into a save from a tight angle.

Shkendija needed to take the game to Samsunspor, but the Turkish side didn't exactly overwhelm them with pressure. They struggled to create clear-cut chances, leaving themselves vulnerable to counter-attacks.

In fact, Samsunspor's first real chance didn't come until the final minute of the first half. Carlo Holse's shot was heading into the bottom corner, but Boubacarr Gaye made a crucial block to keep Shkëndija level.

Shkëndija needed a spark to get back into the game, but things took a turn for the worse in the second half. Samsunspor were awarded a penalty after Jaurès Assoumou was fouled in the box, and Olivier Ntcham made no mistake from the spot.

Ntcham, a former Celtic man, showed the composure that Cherif Ndiaye lacked in the first leg, when he missed a penalty. This time, the spot-kick was dispatched with ease, putting Samsunspor further ahead.

Shkëndija struggled to create anything in attack, even after bringing on legend Besart Ibraimi. Samsunspor, on the other hand, continued to push and sealed the win with a third goal.

The finish came courtesy of Cherif Ndiaye, who tapped into an empty net from Assoumou's low cross, scoring his first goal of 2026. The tie was all but over, with Samsunspor cruising to a 5-0 aggregate win.

Marius Mouandilmadji nearly added to the scoreline with a fierce drive into the roof of the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside. The centre-forward had a frustrating moment, hitting the post before being pulled back for offside again.

But Mouandilmadji finally got his goal, showing patience as he slotted the ball through the goalkeeper's legs. It was a well-taken finish, and he deserved the strike.

Mouandilmadji, the competition's joint-top scorer, had plenty of opportunities to add to his tally given Samsunspor's dominance. As the clock ticked down, he created more chances, and though one effort hit the post, he wasn't denied.

He got his seventh goal of the competition in added time, tapping home with ease. The strike capped off a convincing win for Samsunspor, who progressed to the last 16 with a 5-0 aggregate victory.

Samsunspor had a comfortable evening, securing a 4-0 win and 5-0 aggregate victory. They'll now face either Shakhtar Donetsk or Rayo Vallecano in the last 16.

Samsunspor book their place in the #UECL round of 16 👏 pic.twitter.com/rKl3ruwDe3

— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) February 26, 2026

Shkëndija, meanwhile, made history by reaching this stage of a UEFA competition, becoming the first North Macedonian side to do so. They can be proud of their UECL run, despite falling short against Samsunspor.