Nigeria striker and Africa Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, who guided Napoli to win their first league title in 33 years, has not been celebrated despite his progress in the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
The 25-year-old scored 26 Serie A goals in 32 appearances in 2022–23 and managed 31 goals in all competitions last season.
Osimhen was crowned the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year in December 2023.
His club (Napoli) act has been perceived as dishonourable, unwelcoming, and disrespectful, and he has been urged to dump the club despite the contract extension.
Chronicle NG reports on how Nigerians reacted to the trend.
“Napoli won the league with the best African player in the world. They can’t even congratulate him for progressing to the biggest African competition in the world. Every club has congratulated Asian and African players but Napoli. This is why the Italian League fell off; Leo DaSilva was dismayed, Racismo!”
“Another progress for Osimhen in the AFCON with no congratulations from Napoli despite other clubs doing so for their players, Peak Santi noted.”
“The Premier League is celebrating their African players, and clubs are posting their players, but Napoli and Seria A are acting like they don’t have a single African player in their league and club. I blame Osimhen for even extending his contract. Shitty league shitty club, Imma Techy was displeased.”
“All these European clubs are posting their players when they proceed to the next round of the AFCON and Asian Cup. Brentford, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Atalanta, Spurs, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Atlético Bilbao.
“But you see, Napoli has never posted Osimhen to celebrate him for once in this AFCON, a player that brought them the Scudetto after 30 years of waiting. First, it was the disrespect on TikTok; now there are no ratings from the club. Osimhen needs to leave that club ASAP, Lade penned.”
