Nuri Sahin’s Istanbul Basaksehir suffer early Conference League exit
Nuri Sahin’s Istanbul Basaksehir have been eliminated from the Conference League qualification following a defeat to Inter Turku.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / Author: Antalyaspor A.Ş.
Former Borussia Dortmund star and current manager Nuri Sahin has endured a difficult start to the 2026/27 campaign. His Istanbul Basaksehir side crashed out of the UEFA Europa Conference League in the second qualifying round.
Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg at home, Basaksehir were unable to recover in Finland, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Inter Turku. Goals from Jasse Tuominen and Clinton Jephta secured the win for the hosts, ending Basaksehir's European aspirations for the season early.
The truth always happens on the pitch. We did not deserve to go through to the next round at any point in today's game. It was a very painful experience for all of us. Nuri Sahin
Sahin accepted responsibility for the result, stating that the team failed to execute their training plans on matchday. The focus now shifts to the Süper Lig, where Basaksehir face a challenging opening schedule, including matches against Kocaelispor, Trabzonspor, and defending champions Galatasaray.