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Tag: Victor Osimhen

  • Haaland Comparison gives me inspiration to be a better player – Osimhen

    Haaland Comparison gives me inspiration to be a better player – Osimhen

    Nigeria and Napoli’s point man, Victor Osimhen has revealed that he enjoys the comparison with Manchester’s striker, Erling Haaland.

    According to the talisman, the Norwegian’s success on the pitch is a great inspiration to him, saying that it will help him become a better player.

    Osimhen and Haaland are rated as two of the best forwards in the game at the moment.

    Osimhen has netted 21 times in 23 league appearances for Napoli.

    Haaland has registered 30 goals for in 27 games for  Manchester City.

    “I play with Leo Ostigard at Napoli, who is very good friends with Haaland and plays for Norway with him,’ Osimhen told the Daily Mail.

    ‘I am a fan of the Bundesliga so I’ve followed him for a while and every weekend he seems to score two, three, four goals. Ostigard spoke to me a lot about him, how hard he trained, then one day he said: ‘If you want, I can bring you his shirt.’ I said: ‘Of course, bro.’

    ‘So he spoke to Haaland, who also asked for my shirt, so we swapped them through Ostigard. He is one of the best of his generation so to be compared with him – and considered one of the best strikers in the world – only inspires me to do more.

    ‘I can score four goals in a game, I can provide more assists, I can do many more things as I have the quality to execute them. I need to work even harder and then at the end of my career I can hopefully look back and say yes, I did some wonderful things.

    ‘Everyone watches the EPL (Premier League), it is really competitive, but Serie A is also one of the strongest leagues. When Cristiano Ronaldo played there, he said the same thing. I am really happy to be there.’

  • Osimhen to be out injured for weeks – Napoli President, Aurelio De Laurentiis

    Osimhen to be out injured for weeks – Napoli President, Aurelio De Laurentiis

    The president of Napoli,  Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed that  Victor Osimhen will be out for a couple of weeks after sustaining injury on international duty with Nigeria.

    The Serie A leaders announced on Friday the 23-year-old will miss Sunday’s clash against holders AC Milan at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium due to a muscular injury.

    The club further stated that Osimhen will be evaluated next week but De Laurentiis gave an update during his interview with reporters at the Lega Serie A meeting.

    “He should be out for a couple of weeks, we hope,” said the President.

    Osimhen could now miss the first leg of Napoli’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash against AC Milan at the San Siro.

    The 24-year-old has scored 25 goals in 28 appearances across all competitions for Napoli this season.

  • Why I didn’t join Arsenal – Osimhen

    Why I didn’t join Arsenal – Osimhen

    Super Eagles and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen has stated reasons he refused to join Arsenal despite calls from Arsene Wenger for him to team up with the Gunners few years back.

    The gangling striker  said he was called by the veteran manager to join the Emirates Stadium landlords but had to turn down the offer because he felt it was not the right time.

    Osimhen has been in fantastic form for club Napoli and on the verge of winning the Serie A title with them.

    The Olusosun – bred footballer  has scored 25 goals in 29 games across competitions for Napoli this term, putting the Italian side 19-point ahead at the top of the Serie A table with 11 games left.

    Osimhen is wanted by the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea as they look to bolster their attacks ahead of next campaign.

    The former Lille striker could have joined the Gunners when he turned 19 and even held talks with then Gunners’ boss, Arsene Wenger.

    He said in a recent interview with CentreGoals on Twitter, “I spoke with Arsene Wenger and he wanted me to come to Arsenal but it was not the best option at the time.”

    He’s currently the second highest goal scorer in Europe top five leagues with 21 goals from 23 Serie A games, Erling Haaland of Manchester City is first with 28 goals from 26 games.

  • Nigeria Pitch Awards: 9TH Award Ceremony Winners

    Nigeria Pitch Awards: 9TH Award Ceremony Winners

    Super Eagles and Italian Serie A top scorer, Victor James Osimhen and FC Barcelona Femeni top finisher, Asisat Oshoala were named the King and Queen of the Pitch respectively at the 9th Award Ceremony of the Nigeria Pitch Awards held at the Johnwood Hotel, Abuja on Friday 24th March 2023.

    Award organizers insisted on staging the colourful ceremony despite the Super Eagles’ shock loss to the national team of Guinea-Bissau at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium earlier.

    Speaking at the well attended ceremony, Shina Philips, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards stated that one shock loss by the team should not obliterate the exploits and achievements of the players and the entire team.

    ‘The Eagles are ranked 5th in Africa; they have 19 appearances at the AFCON finals and have emerged winners 3 times. The Eagles have made 6 appearances at the World Cup finals since 1994.’

    Speaking further, Philips said in the current season in Europe, Victor Osimhen had scored 21 goals in the extremely competitive Italian Serie A; Asisat Oshoala had netted 18 goals in the Spanish Ladies Premier League. Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey have helped their respective teams to successful outings.’

    ‘We also cannot ignore the exploits of our local coaches, administrators, football sponsors and football journalists. These people have put in their best and deserve to be identified, recognized and honoured. We have a lot to celebrate’, Philips concluded.

    The Award Ceremony was witnessed by AIG Aishatu Abubakar, the highest ranking woman police officer in the NPF, AIG Olukayode Egbetokun, AIG Zone 7, members of the Super Eagles, representative of SIAO Partners, Mr Alan and Mr Elli of Hawthorn Suites and guests.

    Francis Uzoho, the AC Omonoia Nicosia FC shot stopper was named the Goalkeeper of the Year while the AFC Ajax left-back Calvin Bassey emerged the Defender of the Year. Alex Iwobi, who has averaged a total of 39 passes per match with a pass completion rate of 80 percent, and has 6 assists for his English Premier League side, Everton FC, won the Midfielder of the Year and the current Napoli FC goal poacher, Victor Osimhen also picked up the Striker of the Year award for the second season.

     

    In the other categories, the NPFL defending champions and The Pride of Rivers, Rivers United won the Team of the Year while Stanley Eguma, one of the longest serving coaches in the NPFL and coach of Rivers United carted home the Coach of the Year award. Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi, Former 1st Vice-President of the NFF and organizer of the Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation Mini-Tournament, who won the Sam Okwaraji Award for commitment to Nigerian football, who won the award last year, retained the award for a second time.

    Lagos State again emerged the State with the Best Grassroots Football

    Development Programme at the 9th Award Ceremony. The Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium in Uyo was voted the best Football Pitch of the Year while His Excellency, Nyesom Wike CON, the Executive Governor of Rivers State was voted the Football Friendly Governor of the Year for the second time. Nigeria’s sport betting giant, BET9JA emerged Corporate Sponsor of Football Award.

    In the media categories, Johnny Edward, Punch Newspapers correspondent was voted the Football Journalist of the Year – Print for the second time. The versatile Supersport presenter, Mozez Praiz, starved off stiff competition from Promise Efoghe (Television Continental) and Cecilia Omoregbe (Channels TV) to emerge winner of the Football Journalist of the Year – TV.

    In the Football Journalist of the Year – Radio category, Tony Bekederemo of Sports Radio 88.9 Brila FM emerged winner for the third time since first winning it in 2018. Tobi Samuel Adepoju of Oganla Media won the Football Journalist of The Year – Online category.

    The Nigeria Pitch Awards was first staged in 2013 in Calabar, the Cross Rivers state capital. Since it’s maiden edition, it has remained steadfast and committed to the annual event. While explaining the unique nature of the awards, Nelson Olafisoye, the Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Pitch Awards stated that there are over 150 primary voters spread across the 36 states and the FCT.

    ‘All votes are collated and verified by SIAO Partners, Nigeria’s foremost indigenous accounting firm. After collation and auditing, the results are then announced by the accounting firm. This is why the awards is arguably the only sport awards in Nigeria and one of the few audited awards in Africa’, he concluded.

  • AFCON 2023 Race: In-form Osimhen leads Eagles’ charge for three points against Wild Dogs

    AFCON 2023 Race: In-form Osimhen leads Eagles’ charge for three points against Wild Dogs

    Nigerian ball fans will bank on rave-of-the-moment Victor James Osimhen to bang in the goals as the Super Eagles go up against the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau as the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign reaches the halfway mark.

    Top-of-the-table Nigeria square up to second-placed Guinea Bissau at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Friday from 5pm, with both teams eyeing the full marks in order to consolidate on earlier gains towards landing in Cote d’Ivoire.

    Osimhen, with 25 goals in all competitions this season, netted a significant four in a remarkable 10-0 win for Nigeria against Sao Tome and Principe in June last year, days after he had netted the winner in a 2-1 win over Sierra Leone on Matchday 1 at the same Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

    With five goals, the former U17 World Cup winner and record goalscorer (with 10 goals) is among the leading marksmen in the qualifying race, and will grab his opportunities with both hands in the two matches against Guinea Bissau in order to put daylight between himself and other contenders.

    Coach José Santos Peseiro will surely put his best foot forward in only his third match, with the objective of keeping intact his hundred per cent record in competitive matches.

    Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho could start in goal, and there are Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kevin Akpoguma, Kenneth Omeruo, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi and Bruno Onyemaechi to pick from for the rearguard, as well as England-based quartet Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Joe Aribo in the middle of the pack.

    Captain Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Terem Moffi and Paul Onuachu are available for the fore sector, as the Eagles aim for all six points that will super-pave their pathway to the finals.

    Sierra Leone’s 2-2 draw with Sao Tome and Principe in Agadir, Morocco on Wednesday turned out a boon for the Eagles, as the Leone Stars are stuck on one point after three matches and would no longer be in the contest if Nigeria grab all six points from these two matches.

    Coach Baciro Candé, who has led the Djurtus an impressive four points in their previous two games, said on arrival in Nigeria on Wednesday that his boys will play with confidence and invention.

    Guinea Bissau have featured in three Africa Cup of Nations finals, making an impressive debut at the 2017 tournament in Gabon.

  • AFCON Qualifier: Osimhen, 22 players now in camp for Nigeria vs Guinea Bissau

    AFCON Qualifier: Osimhen, 22 players now in camp for Nigeria vs Guinea Bissau

    Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen has arrived at the team’s camp in Abuja ahead of Friday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against the Djurtus (Wild Dogs) of Guinea Bissau.

    The match is scheduled to take place at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, in Abuja.

    Eagles Media Officer, Babafemi Raji in a chat disclosed that Osimhen, who had a flight delay in Lagos, joined the team in Abuja after Tuesday’s evening training.

    Raji said that the arrival of Osimhen brought the number of players in camp to 22, while Portugal-based defender Zaidu Sanusi was the only player still being expected and should be joining the team on Wednesday.

    The Eagles have six points from their previous two matches, as they confront Guinea Bissau in a top-of-the-table fixture that will largely determine the swing of the pool.

    They are favoured to qualify for the competition scheduled to hold in Cote d’Ivoire early next year.

    Meanwhile, tickets for the encounter have been calibrated in price ranges of N2,000 and N10,000 for ordinary and VIP seats respectively.

    Ademola Olajire, Communication Director, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said the tickets are available at the football secretariat at the Package B of Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

    Olajire said tickets are also available at the Old Parade Ground, NFF’s former office at Wuse Zone 7 and other designated places which details will be announced on broadcast stations nationwide.

    Egyptian referee Mahmoud Elbana will be in the centre, with his compatriots Youssef Elbosaty, Sami Halhal and Ahmed El-Ghandour to function as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.

    Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana will be the match commissioner and his compatriot Kotey Alexander will be the referee assessor.

    The 22 Super Eagles players currently in camp are:

    1. Kevin Akpoguma
    2. Joe Aribo
    3. Ademola Lookman
    4. Alex Iwobi
    5. Semi Ajayi
    6. Chijioke Aniagboso
    7. Francis Uzoho
    8. Wilfred Ndidi
    9. Daniel Bameyi
    10. Kenneth Omeruo
    11. Frank Onyeka
    12. Moses Simon
    13. Paul Onuachu
    14. Bright Osayi-Samuel
    15. Ahmed Musa
    16. Terem Moffi
    17. Victor Sochima
    18. Calvin Bassey
    19. Bruno Onyemaechi
    20. Samuel Chukwueze
    21. Kelechi Iheanacho
    22. Victor Osimhen
  • Pitch Awards: High expectations as Osimhen, Oshoala in hot race to retain titles

    Pitch Awards: High expectations as Osimhen, Oshoala in hot race to retain titles

    Reigning King of the Pitch and Queen of the Pitch, Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala respectively are in with excellent chances of retaining their awards at the 9th Nigeria Pitch Awards Ceremony which holds at the Great Margaret Hall of the John Woods Hotel, Abuja on Friday evening.

    Osimhen, with 23 goals in 28 matches for Italian Serie A side Napoli this season, is currently one of the world’s leading marksmen. His four goals have helped the Italian club reach the quarter finals of Europe’s top club competition, UEFA Champions League, for the very first time. At international level, his four goals against Sao Tome and Principe in a 2023 AFCON qualifier in Agadir, Morocco nine months ago helped Nigeria to a record international win of 10-0.

    The gangling young forward has recently won the Best Foreign Athlete and Player of the Month awards in Italy. He battles Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Paul Onuachu.

    Oshoala, who features for FC Barcelona Femenin in Spain’s top division, scooped the Pichichi Award as the league’s joint-highest goalscorer with 20 goals, which helped her club win the league title. Her club also won the Spanish Super Cup. She is in a contest with Super Falcons’ team-mates Rasheedat Ajibade and Gift Monday.

    There are 18 categories in all where winners will emerge on Friday night: King of the Pitch; Queen of the Pitch; Striker of the Year; Goalkeeper of the Year; Defender of the Year; Midfielder of the Year; Team of the Year; Coach of the Year; Sam Okwaraji Award; State With The Best Grassroots Football Development Programme; Football Pitch of the Year; Football-Friendly Governor of the Year; Corporate Sponsor of the Year; Sportsmanship Award; Football Journalist of the Year-Print; Football Journalist of the Year-TV; Football Journalist of the Year-Radio and; Football Journalist of the Year-Online.

    The four media categories hold interesting prospects, with Mr. Kunle Solaja, honoured by football’s world-governing body at last year’s World Cup finals in Qatar for having covered 10 FIFA World Cup finals, in the race for Football Journalist of the Year-Online. Tobi Adepoju and Shina Oludare are the other contestants.

    In Football Journalist of the Year-TV, SuperSport ace Mozez Praiz is in the race with TVC’s Promise Efoghe and Channels’ Cecilia Omorogbe. In Football Journalist of the Year-Print, The PUNCH’s Sports Editor Tana Aiyejina is in the contest with Charles Diya and Johnny Edward, while Emmanuel Etim tops the shortlist for Football Journalist of the Year-Radio, which also has Yinka Oyedele and Tony Bekederemo.

    Three eminent personalities, viz Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, billionaire investor Kunle Soname and former NFF 1st Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi are shortlisted for Sportsmanship Award, as are MTN, Bet9ja, Coca-Cola and AITEO for Corporate Sponsor of Football.

    Rivers State Governor, His Excellency Nyesom Wike, CON and Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Godwin Obaseki of Lagos and Edo States respectively contend for Football-Friendly Governor while Edo, Lagos and Delta jostle for State With The Best Grassroots Development Programme. Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Remo Stars Stadium and Godswill Akpabio Stadium are in the race for Football Pitch of the Year.

    The Flamingos, bronze medallists at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India, battle Rivers United and Remo Stars for Team of the Year, and Rivers United’s Stanley Eguma tops the list for Coach of the Year, which also has Gbenga Ogunbote and Bankole Olowookere.

  • UCL: Osimhen’s brace sends Napoli into quarter-finals, Liverpool out

    UCL: Osimhen’s brace sends Napoli into quarter-finals, Liverpool out

    Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen scored twice on Wednesday to help steer Napoli FC of Italy to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.

    The win ensured they moved into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time.

    The 24-year-old who scored in each half of the game was also the hero in their 2-0 win in the first-leg match in Germany about a fortnight ago.

    Osimhen scored his first goal of the match with a header in first-half stoppage time.

    He bagged his 23rd goal in 28 matches in all competitions this season when he found the net with a tap-in after a quick four-pass Napoli combination in the 53rd minute.

    Piotr Zielinski then converted a penalty kick to secure a 5-0 aggregate win.

    Prior to the game, fighting broke out in the Italian city as fans set a police car on fire and threw stones at buses and police.

    Italian authorities had banned German fans from attending the game amid concerns about possible violence, but some Eintracht Frankfurt supporters made the trip to Italy anyway.

    It was peaceful inside the Diego Maradona stadium and the hosts were in control from the start.

    Khvicha Kvaratskhelia went close with a mazy run into the box in the 19th minute.

    The Georgian was denied again in the 43rd minute with goalkeeper Kevin Trapp kicking the winger’s close-range shot wide.

    Osimhen opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time after being given far too much space in the penalty box to rise high and head in a measured Matteo Politano cross.

    The German side were thereafter under pressure from Napoli’s relentless pressing game and it was Osimhen who scored again.

    He tapped in from close range to kill off any hopes of a German comeback, becoming the first Napoli player to score in both legs of a Champions League knockout match.

    The Serie A leaders capped a superb two-legged performance with Zielinski’s penalty kick after the Pole was brought down in the box.

    Elsewhere, Real Madrid cruised into the 2022/2023 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

    Karim Benzema’s second-half goal secured a comfortable 1-0 win over Liverpool in their last-16 second leg game to wrap up a 6-2 aggregate victory.

    The Spanish giants sealed victory in the 79th minute when Vinicius Jr flicked a loose ball inside the area to Benzema who tapped it into the net.

  • Serie A : Osimhen eyes Weah, Batistuta’s records

    Serie A : Osimhen eyes Weah, Batistuta’s records

    Rave of the moment, Super Eagles and Napoli  Striker, Victor Osimhen is on the verge of equaling another goalscoring record set by George Weahand Gabriel Batistuta  in the Italian Serie A.

    Osimhen who has scored in Napoli’s last eight games will be looking forward to scoring again when his side trade tackles with Lazio on Friday night.

    The 24-year-old currently sits at the top of the Serie A goalscoring charts with 19 goals from 20 appearances this season (43 goals in 71 Serie A games).

    The gangling Nigerian striker needs to score four more goals to surpass Weah’s Serie A record.

    Long before Weah became the president of Liberia, he helped the Rossoneri to two Serie A titles in five seasons, scoring 46 times in 114 games.

    The 24-year-old who has been linked with a move away from Napoli in the summer following his impressive form for the Partenopei is also on an eight-game goalscoring streak in the league and needs only three more to equal Gabriel Batistuta’s record of 11.

    The Argentine who starred for Inter, AS Roma and Fiorentina legend in the Serie A set the record during his stints with the Florence based side during the 1994-95 season.

    Osimhen’s goals stretch further clear of his closest rival Lautaro Martinez in the race to be crowned this year’s Capocannoniere.

    He scored for an eighth successive Serie A match – the first man to reach that tally since Cristiano Ronaldo more than three years ago.

    The Partenopei are already coasting home to the Serie A title after establishing an 18- month margin between them and Inter in second place.

    Napoli are hoping to win their first Serie A title first time in 3o years.

     

  • Victor Osimhen constitutes UEFA Champions League Team Of The Week

    Victor Osimhen constitutes UEFA Champions League Team Of The Week

    Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has been included in both the UEFA Champions League Team of the Week and the Team of round 16 first-leg.

    Osimhen continued his impressive scoring form for Napoli after getting on the score sheet in their 2-0 win away to 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday, February 21.

    He took his tally for the season to 20 in 24 games in all competitions for the Serie A leaders.

    The team of the week was announced by the football facts and statistics website whoscored.com on their Twitter handle.

    Victor Osimhen included in UEFA Champions League Team Of The Week

    Osimhen alongside three of his Napoli teammates and Real Madrid’s quarter, Karim Benzema, Eder Militao, Vinicius Junior and Luka Modric, all made the Team of the Week.

    While for the Team of the first-leg round of 16, Osimhen was included with the same Madrid players and also three of his Napoli teammates.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Osimhen is being linked with moves to Chelsea and Manchester United this summer.

    Born in Nigeria, Osimhen began his senior career in Germany at VfL Wolfsburg in 2017. Following a season and a half at the club, he moved to Belgian side Charleroi on loan in 2018–19, before moving to France at Lille.

    In 2020, Osimhen transferred to Serie A club Napoli for a club-record fee of €70 million. He won the Serie A Best Young Player award in the 2021–22 season.

    Victor Osimhen included in UEFA Champions League Team Of The Week

    Osimhen won the Golden Boot award at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which Nigeria won. He made his senior international debut in June 2017 and played at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

    He is currently the ninth all-time highest goalscorer of the Nigeria national team.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Osimhen started his career at the Ultimate Strikers Academy, based in Lagos, Nigeria.

    In January 2016, after being noticed for his performances at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Osimhen committed to a pre-contract with VfL Wolfsburg, stipulating that he would officially join the club in January 2017