Nigerians have taken to social media to lambast Italian Serie A winners Napoli for celebrating Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen following his qualification to the 2023 African Cup of Nations final.
Following Nigeria’s win over the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, Napoli, on its verified X handle, celebrated Osimhen, who was instrumental in Nigeria’s epic victory over South Africa.
Napoli’s celebratory statement reads, “Congratulations to @victorosimhen9 and @NGSuperEagles on reaching the final of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations!”
However, the congratulatory statement did not sit well with Nigerians, who had previously questioned the Serie A giant over their silence on Osimhen’s triumph so far at the AFCON.
Reacting to the statement, Nigerians berated Napoli for waiting so long before celebrating their talisman, whose epic play helped secure the Serie A title for the club last season.
Speaking partly in Pidgin and English, a netizen simply identified as Onyeani on X berated Napoli, saying, “Una papa, I mean your daddy. What in a jollof rice cooked with Cameroon pepper, antelope meat, and served with Amapiano is this?”
“Your star player travelled to represent his country; not even for a day did you guys make a post to wish him well.
“Service and duty are two-way things: player to club and club to player.”
He further added that “@sscnapoli is a bunch of disappointment. Your club is undeserving of the players that turn in every game day to play for them.”
For Dr. Stan, he stated that Napoli has no regard for their valuable player when he said, “You just suddenly realised now that @victorosimhen9 Is your player? You guys have no regard for him; it is better he goes to another club.”
For Afrowave Queen, she called the club an enemy of progress, saying, “Na today your day break? Enemies of progress, God go punish Una!”
Another netizen simply identified as Okpotopo berated the club, saying, “You never supported your player from the beginning of the tournament. You can’t stop his shine. @victorosimhen9 is Africa’s best player.”
While Tina Osagie thanked Atalanta BC for celebrating Ademola Lookman, he berated the Naples-based club for failing to do the same in Osimhen’s case.
He said, “You didn’t bother to celebrate him all this while. Useless Napoli, it will not be well with you and una president. @Atalanta_BC God bless your club for always celebrating Ademola Lookman.”
Jetro Olowole urged the club to keep their congratulatory message to themselves. He said, “Save your congratulations. Osimhen carries grace that you can’t suppress. He’ll win the cup and shame your club.”
Buttressing Olowole’s statement, Wanheda stated, “We don’t need your congratulation; you lot can hold that; you never said a word since the beginning of the tournament despite having Osimhen, who won the league for you last season, playing his heart out at AFCON; it’s now in the final; you want to do familiarity; please no, thanks.”
Hassan noted that the club was ungrateful to Osimhen for all the efforts he has put in to take Napoli to being the Scudetto champions.
He said, “So you just remember you have a player at the AFCON? Ingrates!”
While Ronald Nnamdi Gabriel stated that “Osimhen is the King of Napoli,” others urged Osimhen to leave the club at the end of the season.
Speaking in Pidgin, Bodunbrin slammed the club, saying, “This club mumu I swear, make Osimhen commot from there.”
For Joe Praise, he said, “After all the matches he has been playing. Osimhen should just get ready to leave Napoli.”
Calling the club “racist,” Captain Tango noted, “Our boy must leave that racist club.”
For Emediong Essien, “Napoli, are you just discovering that Oshimen is playing AFCON? In fact, whether you post or not, it has little to no meaning. I just hope Oshimen gets a better team this summer. Let’s go Nigeria,” he said.
Osimhen’s show of masterclass earned Nigeria a penalty in the 64th minute when he was brought down by Mvala inside the 18-yard box.
Then, in the 85th minute, Nigeria looked to have sealed the game, with Victor Osimhen finishing a terrific counter. But VAR brought play back to the start of the move, finding that Alhassan Yusuf had fouled Percy Tau, and as the clock ticked over the 90-minute mark, Teboho Mokoena scored from the spot.
The Nigerian talisman is expected to return to Napoli at the end of the season, with several clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea showing a desire to get his signature.
