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Tag: Osimhen

  • Osimhen reminds me of a younger Edinson Cavani – Atzori

    Osimhen reminds me of a younger Edinson Cavani – Atzori

    Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen with his recent form in Europe, has been compared to the younger version of Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani by Gianluca Atzori.

    After a shaky debut season at Napoli due to coronavirus and injury issues, the 22-year-old has been progressing in the 2021-22 campaign.

    So far, he boasts seven goals in eight appearances for Luciano Spalletti’s men who currently lead the Serie A table thanks to a perfect start.

    “He started very strongly, and when a striker starts in confidence, usually, he enjoys this throughout the year,” Atzori said on 1 Station Radio, as per Tuttonapoli.net.

    “He is physical, and he helps the team a lot and reminds me of the younger Cavani.

    “I wish him to continue like this and make the same career as the Matador.”

  • Serie A: Napoli’s Osimhen grabs brace in 4-0 rout to reclaim top spot

    Serie A: Napoli’s Osimhen grabs brace in 4-0 rout to reclaim top spot

    Napoli reclaimed top spot in Serie A as in-form striker Victor Osimhen struck twice in an impressive 4-0 win at Sampdoria on Thursday, their fifth consecutive league victory.

    Luciano Spalletti’s side are two points clear of Inter Milan and AC Milan with a perfect 15 points, scoring 14 goals and conceding two in their five games.

    Osimhen’s cushioned volley put the visitors ahead after 10 minutes at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris before two good saves from David Ospina denied Sampdoria an equaliser.

    Napoli pulled clear through an arrowed Fabian Ruiz strike before the break, and explosive strikes from Osimhen and Piotr Zielinski completed the rout.

    Osimhen, who had enough opportunities to score a hat-trick, took his tally to five goals in five games in all competitions as the Partenopei continued to make an early statement about their title credentials.

    Speaking after the game, Spalletti said: ‘It was a good result today, but Sampdoria caused us problems in the first half.

    “Where we deserve credit is for hanging in there, resisting the pressure and then finishing our chances well.

    “Ospina did really well in goal during the first half, as Sampdoria pounced on us from the start, but that left huge gaps behind their defence, and in those situations Osimhen is devastating.

    “When the game is not going well, you have to try to get something from the individuals and that’s what we did,”

  • Europa: Victor Osimhen grabs brace in Napoli draw at Leicester

    Europa: Victor Osimhen grabs brace in Napoli draw at Leicester

    Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen denied Leicester the perfect start in the Europa League as Napoli hit back from 2-0 down to snatch a point.

    The striker struck twice in the second half as the visitors deservedly grabbed a 2-2 draw in Group C at the King Power Stadium.

    Ayoze Perez’s first goal since March and Harvey Barnes’ second-half goal gave the Foxes a commanding lead.

    But Osimhen grabbed a classy lifeline for the visitors and then headed in a late leveller, with Leicester’s frustrations compounded when Wilfred Ndidi was sent off in injury time.

    Police and stewards had to control a disturbance between the home and travelling fans at full time with missiles thrown between supporters.

    Napoli controlled much of the game and were almost left to rue several missed chances with Osimhen, Hirving Lozano, Piotr Zielinski and Kevin Malcuit all wasteful in the first half.

    The Foxes – who only introduced Jamie Vardy as a late substitute – go to Legia Warsaw, who won at Spartak Moscow on Wednesday, in two weeks.

    In another encounter also played on Thursday, Steven Gerrard’s 50th European tie as Rangers boss ended in a 2-0 Europa League defeat by Lyon at Ibrox.

    Cameroon international Karl Toko Ekambi fired in a terrific opener for the French side after 22 minutes of the Group A opener in Govan.

    The Scottish champions had come close on a few occasions in the first half but in the 55th minute Gers skipper James Tavernier put through his own goal trying to stop a close-range shot from Islam Slimani.

    Despite a huge effort from the home side, it was too big a lead to claw back.

  • Osimhen will learn from red card incident – UEFA Vice President

    Osimhen will learn from red card incident – UEFA Vice President

    UEFA Vice President Zbigniew Boniek says Victor Osimhen will learn from his sending off during Napoli’s first game in the new Serie A season at the weekend.

    Referee Gianluca Aureliano showed Osimhen a straight red card in the 23rd minute after he was adjudged to have shoved Venezia midfielder Daan Heymans before a corner kick was taken.

    As a result of the straight red card, Osimhen will be expected to miss Napoli’s next two Serie A matches against Genoa and Juventus, on August 29 and September 11.

    However, in a chat with Radio Kiss Kiss, Boniek urged the Nigerian international to always keep his cool and focus more on the game.

    “The expulsion of Osimhen? They are hundredths of a second reactions, scams that can happen,” the former Polish international forward told Radio Kiss Kiss.

    “But we must make the players understand that such behaviours must be avoided.

    “He (Osimhen) is always very heated; he is quick and fast. But he’ll benefit from this episode.”

  • Victor Osimhen has been unlucky – Rohr

    Victor Osimhen has been unlucky – Rohr

    Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has revealed Napoli forward Victor Osimhen has been unlucky this season but he is confident the forward will soon start impressing with the Serie A side.

    The 22-year-old teamed up with the Parthenopeans last summer on a club-record fee of €80 million following his eye-catching displays for Lille during his one-year stay with the club.

    The centre-forward has, however, struggled to play regularly, owing to injury, suspension and coronavirus-related problems.

    Rohr has highlighted the qualities of the Super Eagles forward and believes Napoli fans will soon see his best after overcoming his injury problems.

    “Victor Osimhen’s season has so far been unlucky, between injuries and Covid. Already in October, he could not play with our national team two games, in Austria, because he was in quarantine after some of his teammates at Napoli had contracted Covid,” Rohr told Kiss Kiss Napoli.

    “I spoke with the boy and he told me that he is physically and mentally fine. He is ready to return to the field with Napoli and also with the national team.

    “Victor can play as a central striker in both 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. They are two game systems that we use in the national team. He has been a permanent player in the Nigerian national team for five years.

    “His spirit of sacrifice is an example for all. You will soon see his real value. In the national team he is our point of reference for the attack, he has collected an important legacy in that role, that of [Odion] Ighalo.

    “In the next qualifying matches for the African Cup, we hope to find him with great energy. Napoli are a great team but have been unlucky this season.

    “Gattuso is a good coach and Victor told me he trusts him a lot and what he’s teaching him. I think he can get results already this season.

  • Napoli to fine Osimhen for breaking COVID-19 rules

    Napoli to fine Osimhen for breaking COVID-19 rules

    Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen may be facing a fine of up to two weeks’ wages by his club Napoli after a video of his birthday emerged on social media.

    Osimhen tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, a few days after attending a birthday party organized in his honor.

    According to an Italian newspaper, Italy24news, the Super Eagles forward was seen in a video dancing without a mask, while his guests also broke Covid-19 protocols.

    The said video angered the Napoli manager Gennaro Gattuso and the Napoli fans who believed he acted irresponsibly.

    Napoli is not happy with the footballer who has now tested positive for Covid 19 after failing to comply with the rules imposed by the club.

    Meanwhile, the club also confirmed that Osimhen was not in contact with the rest of his team mates and was asymptomatic.

  • I’m not in competition with any Nigerian striker – Osimhen

    I’m not in competition with any Nigerian striker – Osimhen

    Nigeria and Napoli forward Victor Osimhen says he and other Super Eagles strikers are not in competition but united in winning to make the country proud whenever on national call.

    Osimhen, during a pre-match press conference ahead of Friday’s Super Eagles/Leone Stars’ 2021 AFCON qualifier in Benin, said he and his colleagues were focused on the job at hand.

    The striker however acknowledged that the game billed for the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium might not be easy, even though he assured Nigerians of victory.

    “Obviously, the game won’t be easy, but I want to say that victory is sure for Nigeria.”

    Osimhen who said he was never desperate regarding scoring goals while on national duty said he believed so much in team work.

    “I score if opportunities come along. But I must say I am not in competition with any of my colleagues to score goals.

    “It’s all about team work. For us, it is about winning and winning for Nigeria. It does not matter who scores the goals,” he said.

    The striker however assured that he was fit and ready to do battle with their Sierra Leonean opponents.

  • AFCON qualifiers: 16 players participate in Eagles first training session, Osimhen missing

    AFCON qualifiers: 16 players participate in Eagles first training session, Osimhen missing

    The Super Eagles on Tuesday in Benin had their first training session in the last leg of preparations for their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Sierra Leone.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 16 of the 23 invited players took part in the training.

    Napoli forward Victor Osimhen was however missing from the training, even though it was earlier confirmed he had arrived at the team’s camp.

    Amaju Pinnick, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), had earlier on Tuesday confirmed Osimhen’s arrival, adding that he initially had some flight challenges.

    “Osimhen called me two days ago complaining that an airline could not carry him because of XYZ.. and asked if he could get another ticket and I said ‘we are going to get a ticket for you’ and I am happy he has arrived.

    “So, you can see the commitment of the young players to this country,” he said.

    NAN reports that Chidozie Awaziem, Kelechi Iheanacho and Emmanuel Dennis were among the latest set of arrivals in the Benin City camp of the Super Eagles.

    Those already on ground include team captain Ahmed Musa, the England-based trio of William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina.

    Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun who both play for the Scottish side Rangers are also in.

    Also In camp are goalkeepers Maduka Okoye, Sebastian Osigwe and Ikechukwu Ezenwa who was called up as a late replacement for Daniel Akpeyi.

    The other players invited by coach Gernot Rohr and already in town are Kevin Akpoguma, Zaidu Sanusi, Tyronne Ebuehi, and Oghenekaro Etebo..

    Etebo is returning to the team after missing the two friendly games against Tunisia and Algeria in October.

    The Super Eagles take on the Leone Stars at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Friday before heading to Freetown for the return game on Tuesday at the Siaka Stevens Stadium.

  • Nigerian football star, Osimhen celebrates goal with #EndPoliceBrutality shirt

    Nigerian football star, Osimhen celebrates goal with #EndPoliceBrutality shirt

    Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has scored his first goal in Serie A as a Napoli player.

    The football star scored his first Napoli goal with a wonderful finish against Atlanta in the 43rd minute.

    After scoring, Osimhen held up a shirt with the caption “End Police Brutality in Nigeria”.

    Previously, the player had tweeted in support of #EndSARS protesters in Nigeria.

    Napoli paid French club Lille a club record fee of up to 80 million euros ($94.6 million) to bring Nigeria forward to southern Italy on a five-year deal.

    The total fee is almost double Napoli’s previous club record of around 40 million euros paid for Gonzalo Higuain in 2013 and Hirving Lozano last year.

    Osimhen scored 18 times last season and was one of the revelations of France’s curtailed campaign with 13 Ligue 1 goals as Lille finished fourth.

    Napoli finished seventh in Serie A and qualified for the Europa League after winning the Italian Cup, their first trophy in six years.

    Gennaro Gattuso’s Napoli are hoping to get back on track after their aborted trip to Juventus before the international break.

    They did not turn up for the game in Turin after two positive coronavirus cases.

     

  • Napoli, Inter Milan join EPL battle for Osimhen

    Premier League clubs are facing a fight to sign Lille striker Victor Osimhen.

    The 21-year-old is being linked with Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.

    According to Le10 Sport, Napoli and Inter Milan also want to sign the Nigeria international.

    Osimhen believes the former would offer him more playing time than the Premier League giants.

    A talented forward, Osimhen has scored 25 Ligue 1 goals in 64 goals in the last two seasons.