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Tag: Napoli FC

  • Ikpeba reveals player that will win African footballer of the year

    Ikpeba reveals player that will win African footballer of the year

    Former Nigerian forward and African footballer of the year, Victor Ikpeba has tipped Napoli Striker, Victor Osimhen to win this year’s African Footballer of the Year award ahead of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Bayern Munich’s Senegal forward Sadio Mane.

    The former Monaco forward noted that Osimhen’s rivals, Mane and Salah are not doing well at the moment.

    Prince of Monaco as Ikpeba was fondly referred to made this known while speaking on Supersport’s magazine show, Monday Night Football where he said Osimhen present form good enough to win the award.

    , “Osimhen doesn’t need to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be crowned the African Footballer of The Year for 2023.

    “If Napoli wins the Serie A and they get to the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League, like the semifinals or the final, he can be the African Footballer of The Year.”

    He added, “Osimhen’s rivals for the award, the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, are really struggling at the moment.”

    Osimhen has been in top form for Napoli so far this season, scoring 18 goals in 18 Serie A matches.

    His form for Napoli has attracted interest from Chelsea and Manchester United in the English Premier League.

  • Serie A : Osimhen grabs goal number 18, set new record

    Serie A : Osimhen grabs goal number 18, set new record

    Super Eagles Napoli Striker, Victor Osimhen, scored in Napoli’s 2-0 away win against Sassuolo FC on Friday night to take his tally to 18 in the Serie A.

    The Nigerian forward making his 197th appearance for both club and country scored his 100th career goal in the 33rd minute to double Napoli’s lead in the encounter.

    Strike partner, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had shot the club into the lead 12 minutes into the game  as Napoli’s relentless charge to win the title received a major boost.

    The Nigerian brilliantly held off two defenders before catching Andrea Consigli off guard with a ferocious effort hit early from a tight angle.

    The Nigerian’s stunning record surpasses the achievements of the quartet of seven time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, Didier Drogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Messi reached the 100th goal mark after 210 appearances for both club and country while Drogba (236), Ibrahimovic (245) and Ronaldo (301).

    The goal was his 18th Serie A goal of the season in 19 games .

    Napoli are on 62 points from 23 games while second place Inter Milan have 44 points from 22 games.

    His strike also saw him become the first player to score in seven consecutive Serie A games for Napoli.

    Osimhen who was replaced in the 83rd minute by Giovanni Simeone now hold the third best min-per-goal ratio in Serie A since the 1994/95 season scoring a goal in every 124 minutes.

    Former Nigerian Midfielder, Austin JayJay Okocha has tipped Osimhen to be crowned the next African Footballer of the year.

     

  • Victor Osimhen will be crowned next African best – Okocha

    Victor Osimhen will be crowned next African best – Okocha

    Former Mercurial Super Eagles Midfielder, Austin Okocha has tipped Napoli forward, Victor Osimhem to be crowned the next African footballer of the year.

    Osimhen  has been highly inspirational for Napoli this season, scoring a couple of goals and topping the Serie A scorer’s chart.

    The former Lille forward is currently the top scorer in the Italian topflight, having scored 17 goals in 18 games for the Parthenopeans.

    Former midfield maestro Okocha believes the ex-Lille star is a strong contender for the prestigious African award and also expressed confidence in his chances of winning it.

    “Yes definitely, I think he is the best player in Africa right now and I have no doubt that he is a very strong contender for that award,” Okocha told newsmen.

    The former Paris Saint-German star noted that Osimhen’s hunger for goals stood him out among other strikers in Europe.

    “Osimmeh is hungry to score goals and shoots smartly when he playing. It’s not something that you can learn, it comes naturally, maybe when you grow up in this side of the world, you learn on the streets how to fetch for yourself.

    “You can see in Osimhen’s eyes the hunger for success and I think that is what is driving him.”

    Osimhen’s exceptional performance has attracted interests from top clubs in the Premier League, with Manchester United and Chelsea keen on signing the Nigerian striker in the summer.

    The 24-year-old was linked with a move to Old Trafford in January but turned down the chance of joining the Red Devils.

    Osimhen’s impressive form earned him Serie A’s best player of the month for January, while he was also named the winner of the Serie A Goal of The Month award for his stunning Pele-like goal against Roma in the same month under review.

    His  17 goals in 18 games has helped Napoli to stay on top of the Serie A standing thereby putting the club at a vantage position to win the scudetto first time in over 30 years.

  • Serie A: Osimhen scoops January player of the month Award

    Serie A: Osimhen scoops January player of the month Award

    Super Eagles Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen has scooped the Scudetto player of the month of January, 2023.

    Osimhen’s heroics for Napoli in the past weeks is unprecedented, scoring five goals and providing one assist in four matches for Napoli in the Serie A.

    Osimhen scored highest number of votes to beat countryman Ademola Lookman and host of others.

    The striker previously scooped the Serie A Goal of the Month award.

    TheNewsGuru reports that Osimhen was previously nominated for the award in October and November but lost out to Juventus forward, Moise Kean and AC Milan winger, Rafael Leao.

    The 24-year-old beat compatriot Ademola Lookman, Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, Roma forward, Paulo Dybala and Lazio midfielder, Luis Alberto to the individual honour.

    The Nigeria international is third the Napoli player to have won the award in the last five months.

    Osimhen will be presented the award during the pre-match of Napoli versus Cremonese at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday.

    The Nigerian striker is also in the running to win the Scudetto’s golden ball award after scoring 16 goals in 17 games to top the Serie scorer’s chart.

     

     

     

  • Serie A: Osimhen’s wonder strike against Roma rated best goal in January

    Serie A: Osimhen’s wonder strike against Roma rated best goal in January

    Victor Osimhen’s wonder strike against Roma last weekend  has been rated best Seria goal for the month of January 2022.

    In a poll done by Football fans in Italy, Osimhen’s ferocious first-half strike in Napoli’s 2-1 win against Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma won the hearts of the majority of football fans in Italy.

    “As voted by yourselves…The @cryptocom #SerieA January goal of the month is @victorosimhen9’s audacious strike in the Derby del Sole. ” reads a tweet on the official Twitter handle of Lega Serie A.

    The 24-year-old has led Napoli’s charge for the first Scudetto in 33 years with his consistent scoring form.

    The striker is currently the top scorer in the Italian top flight with 14 goals from 16 games.

    Osimhen has also been nominated for the January Player of the Month award.

    The Nigeria international scored five times in four appearances for the Partenopei in the month.

    The gangling striker is in the running for the African footballer of the year award for the year 2023.

    This will be first time in many years a Nigerian will be considered for the annual awards presently held by Senegal’s Sadio Mane.

  • Red-hot Osimhen scores goal number 14 as Napoli beat Roma 2-1

    Red-hot Osimhen scores goal number 14 as Napoli beat Roma 2-1

    Red hot Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen scored the opener for Napoli 2-1 win against Roma in the Italian scudetto.

    Giovanni Simeone scored the winner to secure Napoli’s victory to consolidate their position on the top of the Italian serie A.

    Osimhen latched on to a cross from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from the left flank, chested the ball, controlled with his thigh before blasting a well taken shot into the right corner of the Roma post to give Napoli the lead in the 17th minute.

    Substitute Simeone rifled home a wonderful finish at the end of a long passing move with four minutes remaining at the bouncing Stadio Maradona to see off a spirited Roma team who thought they had escaped with a point when Stephan El Shaarawy levelled in the 75th minute.

    The result meant Napoli are now 13 points clear of the league standing with 50 points from 20 games while Inter-Milan come second with 40 points from same number of games. Lazio are in distant third from 38 points in 20 games.

    Home fans hoping for an end to their 33-year wait for the Scudetto let out a powerful roar of joy and relief at the final whistle after coming through a hard-fought contest with fierce rivals Roma thanks to Simeone’s fifth goal after coming off the bench this season.

    “I tried to give everything I had. I did the best thing possible today which was get the winner. I am so happy,” said Simeone.

    Osimhen leads the Serie A scorers chart with 14 goals followed strictly by another Nigerian Ademola Looman who plays for Atalanta FC.

     

  • Super Eagles forward, Osimhen rated best striker in Italy

    Super Eagles forward, Osimhen rated best striker in Italy

    Nigeria’s  Victor Osimhen has been rated the  most prolific goal scorer  in Italy at the moment.

    Osimhen got the rating from former AS Roma Forward, Francesco Totti, who described him as the number-one striker in the Italian top flight.

    Osihmen has been highly rated due to his heroics in front of goal playing for Napoli FC in the Serie A this current season.

    The lanky powerful attacker currently leads the goals chart with 9 goals from 11 games this season for Table toppers Napoli.

    According to Totti, he’s the strongest striker in Serie A this season.

    “First because he scores, when he gets the ball he scores. And then he makes himself available to the team. He’s always in the right place at the right time.”

    The forward has helped Napoli push for a first Scudetto since 1986.

    Luciano Spalletti’s side enjoyed an eight-point lead over second-placed AC Milan.

    The 23- year -old attacker is being sought after by many clubsides in Europe following his heroics this season for club and country.

    Presently. Napoli has placed a price tag of 100 million pounds on his head and it remains to be seen if he would be lured away from the club in January transfer window.

  • Serie A : Osimhen named Napoli’s first choice penalty taker

    Serie A : Osimhen named Napoli’s first choice penalty taker

    Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen has been named Napoli’s first-choice penalty taker for the 2022/2023 football season.

    This is following Osimhen’s penalty goal against Partenopei in a club’s friendly game on Sunday.

    Reacting to his goal, Napoli wrote on their Twitter handle, “Osimhen!!! 1-0. But the most important thing: He’s gonna be our penalty kicker this season.”

    Last season, it was Italy playmaker Lorenzo Insigne, who was in charge of the penalty role at the club. However, Insigne has left Napoli to sign for Major League Soccer side Toronto FC.

    Osimhen, who joined Napoli from French Ligue 1 side Lille, has so far managed 62 appearances in total and scored 28 goals. Last season in Serie A, Osimhen managed 27 appearances overall and accumulated 1,992 minutes of playing time.

    He was ranked joint eighth in the Serie A, scoring charts with a total of 14 goals and two assists.

    Napoli finished third on the Serie A  log last season and will be featured in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

  • Victor Osimhen is new Super Eagles penalty taker – Peseiro

    Super Eagles Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen has been given the responsibility  of taking penalties  for the team.

    Coach Jose Peseiro made this known when the team returned to the country after the 10-0 mauling of Sao Tome &Principe.

    Peseiro also praised the striker for his leadership qualities and team spirit.

    He takes over the role from Odion Ighalo, who last featured for the Eagles against Ghana in March, during the 2022 World Cup play-off.

    Peseiro’s statement reads “Osimhen is a leader in his personality and could have scored five goals against Sao Tome as I have appointed Osimhen as our designated penalty taker,” the Portuguese coach said.

    “But he gave Dennis the opportunity to score, I like his humility, he’s a good guy with a big heart and I appreciate it.”

    Meanwhile, Arsenal are leading the race to sign Osimhen after the north London club reportedly returned with an improved bid for the Nigerian striker.

    The Nigerian, who scored 18 times and made six assists in 32 games last season, is also on the radar of other top European clubs.

    Italian giants Napoli placed a €100m (£86m) price tag on the highly-rated 23-year-old striker.

  • Bayern Munich reveal plans for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen

    Bayern Munich have taken a decision on a summer transfer move for Nigerian and Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen.

    The Bundesliga champions are looking forward to bringing a centre forward to replace departing polish striker Robert Lewandowski

    Osimhen, who is valued at €110m, was one of the names linked with a move to Bayern.

    But on Tuesday, Sky Sports Germany transfer expert Marc Behrenbeck insisted the Bavarians could afford the Nigerian

    “Yes, he (Osimhen) played a great season, is a really good player, but according to our information it is not currently an issue at FC Bayern.

    “Yes, Bayern wants to get another No.9, but it’s not Osimhen. In addition, the requested transfer fee is far too high.” €100m or €110m? No, no way,” Behrenbeck said.

    Osimhen scored 18 goals in all competitions last season and made six more in 32 appearances as Napoli finished third in Serie A.

    Victor James Osimhen is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Napoli and the Nigeria national team. Born in Nigeria, Osimhen began his senior career in Germany at VfL Wolfsburg in 2017.