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Tag: Napoli

  • Okocha advises Victor Osimhen on Tik Tok saga

    Okocha advises Victor Osimhen on Tik Tok saga

    Former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the Super Eagles and Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, over the Tik Tok saga in Italy.

    Okocha offered the advice in an interview with NAN at a forum of Veteran Clubs World Championship (VCWC) presentation in Lagos on Friday.

    Recall that two controversial TikTok videos were recently posted on social media platforms by Napoli FC purportedly mocking the Nigerian striker over his penalty miss against Bologna.

    Although it seems the clouds are settling over the matter with Napoli FC deleting the posts and offering some explanations on the controversial post, Okocha rose in defense of Osimhen advising him to weigh his options.

    He also commended Osimhen for the strength he had shown by not letting the controversy to affect him and continuing with his business and productivity.

    “The future is for Osimhen to decide, but I don’t think that his decision to leave Napoli FC should be based on the Tik Tok post alone; he should weigh his options.

    “Osimhen should know what is best for him, whether to continue in Napoli or elsewhere seek a new challenge. I don’t think he should narrow his decision to a Tik Tok post,” he said.

    Okocha further stated that as an accomplished footballer, nothing bothered him on what people thought he did not achieve during his active football career.

    “I don’t I have any regrets about my career. I have surpassed everyone’s target, I never knew that I would get to the height which I got to; but I don’t want to be carried away or sound greedy.

    “Yea, I would have achieved some other things, but some things are not meant to be. If I look at my general contributions to football, I have no regret at all,” he said.

    On Nigeria’s participation at the 2024 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote D’Ivoire, Okocha said Nigeria had what was required to be champions once again.

    “Nigeria is not short of talents and we can never be short of talents. We have what it takes to do well at the 2024 AFCON in Cote D’Ivoire.

    “We also have what it takes to do well in any competition; so it is the same with the Nations Cup.

    “I will love to see the Super Eagles do well, I believe that we have the right players and tools,” he said.

  • Serie A: Osimhen distances self from taking penalties

    Serie A: Osimhen distances self from taking penalties

    Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has distanced himself from taking penalties at Italian club, Napoli after a now infamous series of TikToks were posted to the club’s social media channels in recent weeks.

    Napoli had few rough days at Napoli over two tiktok videos which seemed to have mocked him for begging to take penalties and subsequently missing it in the match against another Serie A side Napoli.

    The videos caused an uproar for Osimhen and his supporters alike, eventually leading to the departure of one of Napoli’s social media executives.

    Since the incident, Napoli have played three matches and been awarded penalties in every one of those games, yet Osimhen has not taken any of them.

    Instead, Piotr Zielinski took on the responsibility against Udinese as well as against Real Madrid in Wednesday night’s Champions League clash at the Maradona.

    Matteo Politano took the injury-time kick against Lecce in the game that was played between the two aforementioned fixtures.

    According to reports from La Repubblica, reported via TMW, it was Osimhen himself who decided to take himself off penalty duty, having felt unnecessarily mocked by the club’s social media team.

  • UCL: Manchester United, Arsenal lose, Real Madrid beat Napoli 3-2 in Naples on matchday 2

    UCL: Manchester United, Arsenal lose, Real Madrid beat Napoli 3-2 in Naples on matchday 2

    Manchester United have been rooted to the bottom of the Group A after a shock defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League group stage on Tuesday night.

    Erik ten Hag’s men were looking to bounce back from their fourth Premier League defeat against Crystal Palace last weekend.

    In the 17th minute, Rasmus Hojlund gave the hosts the lead heading home powerfully from Marcus Rashford’s cross. but Wilfried Zaha equalized against his former club six minutes later

    Hojlund restored United’s lead with a powerful run and finish in the 67th minute, only for Kerem Akturkoglu to make it 2-2 four minutes later.

    Mauro Icardi missed from the penalty spot after Casemiro conceded a penalty, before slotting home the winner late in the game.

    The result sends Galatasaray up to second in the group on four points and leave United pointless.

    Bayern Munich are top on six points from two games after a 2-1 win at FC Copenhagen, who are third with one point.

    Elsewhere another Premiership side, Arsenal kissed the canvass in faraway France as Lens football club came from behind to shock the Gunners  in the Champions League.

    Elye Wahi’s goal for the French side served as a turning point in the encounter.

    Wahi’s first-time finish into the bottom left corner after a cross from Przemyslaw Frankowski saw the home side take the lead in the 69th minute.

    Wahi’s goal eventually turned out to be the winning goal for Lens.

    The Gunners rode some early pressure from Lens before Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring after a 14th-minute through-ball from Bukayo Saka, who then went off injured.

    Lens levelled with a superb finish from Adrien Thomasson, who curled into the far corner.

    Saka went off after 33 minutes in another blow for Mikel Arteta’s side on a difficult night in Europe’s top-tier competition.

    In another UCL encounter, Own goal by goalkeeper Alex Meret in 2nd half hands Real Madrid narrow against Napoli  in Italy.

    Real Madrid beat Napoli 3-2 in a UEFA Champions League group match Tuesday in Italy thanks to an unfortunate own goal by the Naples club’s goalkeeper Alex Meret.

     Leo Ostigard scored the opening goal for Napoli in the 19th minute at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

    Brazilian star Vinicius Junior leveled in the 27th minute for Real Madrid.

    Newly acquired Jude Belligham put the visitors in the lead in the 34 m inutes of the encounter but Napoli’s Polish midfielder Piotr Zielinski scored from the penalty spot to level the match in the 54th minute.

    However, the White’s  midfielder Federico Valverde sent a long-range missile which was deflected by Meret into his own net.

    Real Marid have two wins in two to sit comfortably at the top of Group C

  • UCL: Ancelotti labels Osimhen very dangerous ahead Napoli clash

    UCL: Ancelotti labels Osimhen very dangerous ahead Napoli clash

    Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Spanish side, Real Madrid has labelled Victor Osimhen as a “very dangerous attacker”.

    Real Madrid will slug it out with Napoli on Matchday 2 in the UEFA Champions League taking place at Estadio Diego Armando Maradona on Tuesday night.

    Osimhen netted five times for Napoli in the UCL in last season’s campaign.

    The Nigeria international also registered 26 goals in 32 league appearances to emerge top scorer in Serie A last season.

    The 24-year-old has also been in good form for Napoli this term.

    The striker has five goals in seven league outings.

    “They are very good forwards who have really broken out in the last year, they have demonstrated their quality and shown they are top-level players,” Ancelotti told Real Madrid’s official website.

    “They have amazing talent with different characteristics. Kvaratskhelia is very strong one-on-one and Osimhen is very dangerous.”

  • Serie A: Napoli release statement over Osimhen controversy

    Serie A: Napoli release statement over Osimhen controversy

    Napoli have released a statement after this week’s social media row with Victor Osimhen.

    Osimhen’s camp threatened legal action against the club after a mocking video appeared on the club’s channels.

    But following victory over Udinese on Wednesday, tension appears to have eased.

    Napoli declared in an official statement yesterday: “Calcio Napoli, wishing to avoid any exploitation of the issue, point out that we never wanted to offend or mock Victor Osimhen, who is a treasure of this club.

    “As proof of that, during the summer training retreat, the Club firmly rebuffed every offer that was received for the striker’s transfer abroad.

    “Social media, in particular TikTok, has always used an expressive form of language with a light heart and creativity, without wanting to, as in the case with Osimhen as protagonist, have any intention of insult or derision.

    “In any case, if Victor perceived any offence towards him, this was not what the club intended.”

  • Serie A: Tiktok video not intended to mock Osimhen – Manager, Garcia

    Serie A: Tiktok video not intended to mock Osimhen – Manager, Garcia

    Napoli manager, Rudi Garcia has put up a defense for the Serie A champions over the TikTok video row involving Victor Osimhen.

    Recall that the social media handlers at Napoli posted a video which appeared to be mocking Osimhen after he missed a penalty in the Partenopei’s 0-0 draw against Bologna last weekend.

    The video angered Osimhen to the extent him and agaent, Roberto Calenda threatened legal suit against Napoli.

    He also took down all images of him in the Partenopei jersey on his social media accounts.

    Before then, the Nigeria international was  involved in a touchline row with Garcia after he was substituted against Bologna on Sunday evening.

    However, Osimhen  has ended a four-game goal drought by scoring in Napoli’s 4-1 victory against Udinese on Wednesday night.

    Garcia commented on the issues surrounding the club after the game.

    “Over the last two days there was a bit of trouble with some clumsy behaviour.

    “Nobody wanted to be hurtful, not the TikTok with the video of Victor, nor Victor by taking his photographs down on social media.

    “Nobody intended to hurt anyone, these are instinctive reactions and are understandable,” Garcia was quoted by Football Italia after the game.

  • How Osimhen brushed off scrutiny to end four-game goal drought with smart finish against Udinese

    How Osimhen brushed off scrutiny to end four-game goal drought with smart finish against Udinese

    Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen put his social media storm with Napoli to one side to score as they return to winning ways with a 4-1 victory over Udinese on Wednesday.

    Last season’s Scudetto winners entered this fixture after a three-match winless run in Serie A, which had turned up the heat on new coach Rudi Garcia.

    Osimhen’s missed penalty kick in last weekend’s stalemate at Bologna was then followed by a bizarre post on Napoli’s official TikTok account.

    The video was said to have appeared to mock the Nigeria international, with the forward threatening to take legal action late Tuesday.

    However, Osimhen brushed off the scrutiny to end his four-game goal drought with a smart finish in the 39th minute in Naples to fire the hosts up to seventh in the table.

    After the penalty kick drama of Sunday, it took Napoli only a quarter of an hour to be awarded another penalty kick, when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was fouled inside the area.

    Video assistant review (VAR) was called and eventually the penalty kick was awarded, but instead of Osimhen it was Piotr Zielinski who took responsibility.

    He rolled the ball into the bottom corner after 19 minutes to make it 1-0 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

    Garcia’s out-of-form side were firmly in the ascendancy now with Kvaratskhelia, Osimhen and Mario Rui forcing saves from Marco Silvestri in the Udinese goal.

    Silvestri had no answer to Osimhen in the 39th minute when Matteo Politano slipped through last season’s leading marksman who drilled into the net for his fourth goal this season.

    Osimhen was initially reluctant to celebrate.

    But after some anxious glances towards the assistant referee, no offside flag was raised and he embraced his teammates while feeling the support of a raucous home crowd.

    Further applause followed in the 63rd minute when Osimhen was replaced by Giovanni Simeone, who would find the net but not before Kvaratskhelia.

    Georgian attacker Kvaratskhelia had endured a difficult start to the season and would have been grateful for the gift from away defender Jaka Bijol.

    A poor touch by Bijol allowed Kvaratskhelia to steal in and win possession before he beat Silvestri to the loose ball.

    He was able to open his account for the season from close range in the 74th minute.

    Lazar Samardzic reduced the deficit in the 80th minute but, seconds later, Kvaratskhelia turned provider again when his excellent run and cross found Simeone.

    Simeone headed low into the net to wrap up the scoring on a much-needed positive night for the champions.

  • Angry Osimhen shuns Napoli players at team hotel [Watch]

    Angry Osimhen shuns Napoli players at team hotel [Watch]

    V ictor Osimhen was filmed blanking Napoli teammates this morning as they eassembled ahead of their clash with Udinese.

    Osimhen’s agent Robert Calenda has threatened legal action against Napoli after a disparaging clip mocking the striker appeared on the club’s social media accounts.

    The striker was called out by skipper Giovanni di Lorenzo on Monday after his strop during their 0-0 draw with Bologna after he was substituted by coach Rudi Garcia.

    And as they assembled at the team hotel for tonight’s game, Osimhen was filmed making his entrance.

    Osimhen introduced himself and was welcomed by the team manager Giuseppe Santoro, with whom there was a handshake, and by some teammates. But some were ‘snubbed’ by the Nigerian, who immediately went inside the lobby and did not say hello specifically to Diego Demme, who had raised his hand asking for a high five.

    Watch video:

  • Serie A: Osimhen to take legal action against Napoli over mock tiktok video

    Serie A: Osimhen to take legal action against Napoli over mock tiktok video

    Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen through his agent has threatened legal action against the Italian champions after an inexplicable video appearing to mock the Nigerian striker was posted on the club’s  TikTok account.

    In the 14 -second video which has now been deleted, Osimhen was seen  appealing for a penalty in the weekend’s Serie A encounter with Bologna, with a high-pitched voice in the background squealing “give me penalty please” on two occasions.

    The clip later shows referee Giovanni Ayroldi awarding the spot kick for handball, leading to the same squeaky voice saying: “Thank you, you give me penalty. Thanks!”

    Osimhen stepped up to take the penalty at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara but missed at which point the video seemingly mocked the attacker’s run-up before a final inaudible comment as the ball sails out of play.

    However, Osimhen’s agent Roberto Calenda later released a statement blasting Napoli’s now-deleted post, claiming that the clip caused “very serious damage” to his client, and legal options are now being explored.

  • Osimhen’s agent threatens legal action against Napoli

    Osimhen’s agent threatens legal action against Napoli

    Roberto Calendar, the agent of Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, on Tuesday said he “reserves the right to take legal action” against the club.

    Calenda’s threat came after a video mocking the player was posted and then deleted from the Serie A side’s official TikTok on Tuesday.

    He released a statement on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, saying the video caused “very serious damage to the player”.

    “What happened today on Napoli’s official profile on the TikTok platform is not acceptable.

    “A video mocking Victor was first made public and then, but now belatedly, deleted,” said Calenda.

    “We reserve the right to take legal action and any other useful initiative to protect Victor.”

    Napoli did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal business hours.

    Osimhen missed a late penalty kick in a goalless draw against Bologna in Serie A on Sunday.

    He was substituted as the game drew to a close and appeared to protest the decision, shouting at coach Rudi Garcia before leaving the pitch.

    Later on the French manager, however, played down the situation.

    Champions Napoli are seventh in the standings and play Udinese at home on Wednesday.