Although Osimhen received his matching orders in the 86th minute of Napoli’s 2-0 loss against As Roma at the Stadio Olimpico,Nigerian forward Osimhen will leverage on the mishap for a much needed rest ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON)
The 34th edition of the Total Energies African Cup of Nations kicks off in 20 days,with host,Ivory Coast,taking on Guinea Bissau at the Alhassan Ouattara stadium in a feisty group A tournament opener.Whiles Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea square off a day after in the second game of the competition at the same venue.
Undoubtedly,Victor Osimhen will be the man to produce the goods for the Super Eagles,with the Napoli man topping the goalscoring chart in the qualifying phase of the AFCON with 10 goals to his name.
Osimhen was in scintillating form last season en route to ending Napoli’s 33 year scudetto drought,scoring 26 times and assisting 4 times in 32 Serie-A games.Although Osimhen is yet to transcend such form in the ongoing season,he has managed to nick prestigious individual accolades this term,as a result of last season’s stupendous performances.
The latest accolade given to the Nigerian came in Marrakech,Morocco,as Osimhen became the first Nigerian since Nwankwo Kanu to be crowned as the CAF African men’s player of the year.Before breaking the 24 year-old jinx in Marrakech earlier in the month,Osimhen was the highest placed African at France football’s ballon d’or ceremony,finishing in 8th position;first Nigerian since Nwankwo Kanu to be nominated and also,the first Nigerian to make the top 10 of the ballon d’or.
Osimhen was also named as the Gran Gala Del Calcio player of the season.An award given to the best Serie A player of every season;he became the first African recipient of the award.His off-field successes have largely been down to his phenomenal performances and numbers put up in Napoli’s title winning campaign.His 26 goal tally meant he clinched the capocannoniere (top scorer),becoming the first African to achieve that feat in the Italian Serie A.
The red card against AS Roma was the second time in his club career that Oshimen has been sent off,putting a blemish on what has largely been a successful 18 months for the lanky,powerful Nigerian forward in Naples;One that has seen the club affirm their trust in him by extending his current contract until the summer of 2026.
The burdens of a nation largely rest on the shoulders on the man from Olusosun and if the Super Eagles are to successfully land their 4th AFCON title;their first since 2013,Victor Osimhen will be at the heart of it.
Nigerians will be delighted,as the red card against Roma will put Osimhen out of action in Napoli’s next game against Monza and give him a much needed break ahead of the AFCON.
–
Story By : Andrews Sefa Bamfo | univers.ug.edu.gh
