Football: Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian who conquered Naples, the city of Maradona
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen will score two goals in the La Spezia-Naples match (3-0), February 5, 2023. © REUTERS - DANIELE MASCOLO
Text by: Ndiasse Sambe Follow
3 mins
Current top scorer in the Italian championship, the Nigerian Victor Osimhen is on the way to lead Naples to the title of Italian champion that the city has been waiting for more than 30 years.
It would be a monumental performance at the club that sanctified Diego Maradona.
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Sunday February 5, 2023, Victor Osimhen warms up on the lawn of the Alberto-Picco stadium a few minutes from the La Spezia-Naples match counting for the 21st day of the Italian championship.
The Nigerian striker multiplies the shots on goal, but one of them lands on the face of a fan present in the stands at the ultras of La Spezia.
The Super eagle does not hesitate and enters the "enemy zone" to apologize to the supporter.
Rarely, the ultras of La Spezia, very rivals with those of Naples, begin to applaud the gesture of the Nigerian striker.
In a context where
racist acts are often indexed
in Italian stadiums, this scene shows that “
it is not only the tifosi of Naples who love and respect Victor Osimhen
”, estimates Matteo Cioffi, RFI correspondent in Italy.
Bellissimo gesto di #Osimhen, che nel pre-partita di #SpeziaNapoli sale in tribuna per abbracciare una ragazza, inavvertitamente colpita da un pallone calciato nel riscaldamento
⚽ Le cose belle del calcio 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/ZWqFQnyjEJ
— Federico Gennarelli (@F_Genna88) February 5, 2023
It must be said that Victor Osimhen has built his reputation on goals since his arrival, more than two years ago, in Naples, a club which has also built its legend thanks to scorers like Diego Maradona, José Altafini, Careca, Edinson Cavani or Gonzalo Higuain.
Today, the native of Lagos perpetuates the tradition of Neapolitan pyrotechnicians and could become the first African "capocannoniere" (top scorer) of Napoli and Serie A. The Nigerian international tops the scorers with 17 goals in 18 matches far ahead of his current dolphin, another Nigerian, Ademola Lookman, 12 goals with Atalanta.
Above all, the main challenge for the Didier Drogba fan is to bring back the Serie A title to Napoli, a trophy behind which the city has chased since 1990 and the Maradona years.
The Argentinian genius, who wore the sky blue jersey from 1984 to 1991 (115 goals), was indeed the architect of Naples' only two league titles (1987, 1990).
After finishing four times in place of runner-up (2013, 2016, 218 and 2019), Napoli, who have a 16-point lead over the second in the standings (Inter Milan), should, barring disaster, be crowned champions. Italy this season.
"
Maradona's Heir
"
“
If Naples ends up champion with Osimhen top scorer, that will mean that he will have succeeded where great attackers like Cavani or Higuain have failed.
This will certainly establish him as Diego Armando Maradona's most worthy heir
,” predicts Matteo Cioffi, RFI correspondent in Italy.
“
In any case, the whole city dreams of this title which it could celebrate a year and a half after the death of Maradona
”, adds the Italian reporter.
If the most expensive
player
in the history of Naples, (bought 70 million euros from Lille), still has a long way to go to approach Maradona, whose number 10 has been withdrawn and the name given to the Napoli stadium, he is now elevated to the rank of idol in the same way as the Senegalese Kalidou Koulibaly who played 317 matches in the sky blue jersey, before leaving for Chelsea.
Winner of the
Marc-Vivien Foé prize in 2020
, Victor Osimhen declared that he wanted to "
be the best African player in the world
".
He already has Italy under his belt, and can now go on to conquer Europe, with a round of 16 awaiting him with Naples against Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday February 21.
Grateful To GOD Almighty🙏🏽⚽️ pic.twitter.com/rSFKGKizrX
— Victor Osimhen (@victorosimhen9) February 13, 2023
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