Tag: Osimhen

Nigeria International  striker  Victor Osimhen  can only be  regarded  as one of the greatest players ever if he can  repeat his last season’s  standout performance  with Serie A  defending champions, Napoli.

This much is the opinion of Claudio Anellucci, the erstwhile  agent of former Napoli  striker Edinson Cavani, following the long-standing comparisons between his former client  and the Super Eagles  striker who  was back action in the Serie A  on Saturday  after more than a month  out injured.

Last season, Osimhen  made the headlines with some  eye-catching performances  as his 26  Serie A goals  helped Napoli to clinch the Italian title for the first time since the Diego Maradona days in the 1990s.

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On the other hand, Uruguayan Cavani who is now with Boca Juniors, enjoyed a scintillating three-year stint with Napoli  where he racked up 78 goals in just over 100 appearances between 2010 and 2013.

Yesterday , Anellucci was reportedly  drawn on the similarities between his ex-client and Napoli’s current number 9 during an interview with Radio CRC (as cited by CalcioNapoli1926).

Though  he was full of praise for the former Lille striker, he suggested Osimhen  must follow up his one standout season to date with yet more prolific terms, to be worthy of being discussed in the same breath as Cavani:

 “I don’t find any similarity between Cavani and Osimhen,” Anellucci was quoted as saying. “The Nigerian is certainly an important footballer, the championship season bears witness to this but the year of confirmation is always the following one.

“He always has many physical problems, you can also see it from this. Maybe it’s because the heart is involved, but for me Cavani is still superior to the current number nine.”

Meanwhile, Osimhen  at the weekend  made a  winning return in Napoli’s 2-1 win against Atalanta after  being laid off since last month  when he copped an injury in a friendly during the international break.

Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri marked his debut with a sensational victory away to Atalanta thanks to Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Eljif Elmas on an assist from the returning Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen was out for six weeks after suffering a thigh strain on international duty with Nigeria but played without his trademark protective mask for the first time since January 2022.

Osimhen intercepted Carnesecchi’s poor clearance, and could’ve gone for a goal, but instead rolled it across for unmarked fellow substitute Eljif Elmas to turn in from six yards at the back post.   

His countrymate Demola Lookman scored Atalanta’s only goal before he was substituted in the final minutes of the match.

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Napoli shot into the lead first. Giovanni Di Lorenzo whipped in a cross from the right and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia got in front of Giorgio Scalvini to nod under the bar from six yards.

Atalanta almost equalised within a minute, but Gollini made a great reaction save on the Teun Koopmeiners header at the back post on a Hans Hateboer cross.

Napoli too threatened a second in first-half stoppages with a chaotic move sparked by Ederson’s error, as first Marco Carnesecchi rushed off his line to deny Piotr Zielinski, then the Di Lorenzo follow-up was charged down by Scalvini.

Matteo Ruggeri stung Gollini’s gloves at the near post and Atalanta equalised when Hateboer’s cross from the right found an Ademola Lookman towering header into the far bottom corner.

Napoli are a step closer to recovering Victor Osimhen, Alex Meret and Piotr Zielinski following yesterday’s training session.

Osimhen has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring muscle injury whilst playing for Nigeria in a friendly against Saudi Arabia on October 13, missing the Partenopei’s last six consecutive matches.

Meret picked up a calf injury after the 1-1 draw with Union Berlin in the Champions League on November 8, missing the loss to Empoli, whilst Zielinski returned from the Poland squad this international break after coming down with tonsillitis.

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As noted by the club today, Osimhen, Meret and Zielinski all worked with their Napoli teammates for the initial part of yesterday’s squad training session before the trio departed to work in the gym. All three are now working to be fit for the upcoming clash against Atalanta on November 25.

Lorenzo Insigne also visited the club’s headquarters, greeting the team and wishing them well for the rest of the season.

After missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, Victor Osimhen is keen on returning for Napoli when they visit Atalanta in this weekend’s Serie A tie at the Bergamo.

Osimhen will be returning to action under new manager Walter Mazzarri and he is ready to make the starting line-up.

According to a report by Gianluca Monti of La Gazzetta dello Sport, Napoli doctors are now focused on recovering striker Victor Osimhen in the next two days so that he is fit enough to start on the bench versus Atalanta this weekend.

The 24-year-old started the season well but had to be rescinded from first-team action due to an injury he suffered while playing for Nigeria in a 2-2 draw against Saudi Arabia back in October.

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According to the editorial team of Radio Marte: “Napoli hopes to recover him (Osimhen) at the last minute at least for the bench. The next two days will be decisive.

 “If Osimhen also gives guarantees from a physical point of view, he will return to the group on Wednesday at the latest and will therefore be available to Walter Mazzarri for the match at the Gewiss Stadium. Then obviously the coach will decide whether to field him from the start or whether to insert him during the match in progress which is the most probable hypothesis at the moment. The finish line is approaching, Osimhen is starting to recover.”

Osimhen played a key role in scoring goals last season and 2022-23’s Capocannoniere led the Partenopei to the much-coveted Scudetto. New manager Walter Mazzarri would be delighted to have the Nigerian back amongst the ranks after his brief spell out with injury.

Napoli talisman Victor Osimhen has returned to training on the pitch but is still carrying out specialized training sessions as he fights to return to action immediately after the international break, according to reports from TMW.

Osimhen has been out of action for over a month now, having picked up an injury to his hamstring while away with Nigeria during the previous international break at the beginning of October.

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Osimhen was unable to take part in Walter Mazzarri’s first training session in charge of the Partenopei on Wednesday due to illness but has since begun to step up his recovery process both on the pitch and in the gym.

According to recent updates, Osimhen is pushing to be fit enough to return to action for Mazzarri’s first game away against Atalanta next weekend.

Despite missing a month of action, Osimhen is still the joint-third highest goalscorer in Serie A this season, with six from eight appearances in the league so far.

Ten players remain in contention for the topmost Player of the Year including Nigeria star Victor Osimhen, last year’s winner Sadio Mane of Senegal and Mo Salah of Egypt. 

The Interclub Player of the Year has 10 contenders whilst Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year and Club of the Year has five each.

The ultimate winner of each category will be decided after votes from a voting panel consisting of CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, head coaches and captains of Member Associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.

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The Awards Gala will take place on Monday, 11 December 2023, at the Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco.

Other players on the list are Riyad Mahrez (Algeria, Al Ahli), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon, SSC Napoli), Vincent Aboubacar (Cameroon, Besiktas), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain), Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco, Manchester United), Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal), and Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco, Sevilla).

Last season’s Capocannoniere Victor Osimhen was again ruled out  as Napoli started training under new coach Walter Mazzarri

The club made the decision to sack Rudi Garcia on Tuesday  and bring back Mazzarri, who had already worked here from 2009 to 2013.

Mazzarri had his first session today at the Castel Volturno ground, but while many are away on international duty, Osimhen was meant to be there after shaking off the injury sustained playing for Nigeria last month.

Instead, the striker was nowhere to be seen, with Napoli announcing he was suffering from flu symptoms.

Napoli hope to have Osimhen back on the field for the showdown with Atalanta in Bergamo on November 25.

The 24-year-old scored six goals in just 10 appearances this season between Serie A and the Champions League, suffering a thigh strain playing in Nigeria’s 2-2 friendly draw with Saudi Arabia on October 13.

He then spent a couple of weeks back in Nigeria to take care of some personal matters, returning to Naples last week, where he sat in the stands for the disappointing games against Union Berlin and Empoli.

In a related development, Mazzarri spoke briefly to reporters before the first training session for the new coach.

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The tactician made his return to Castel Volturno for the first time in over a decade, having been appointed as the replacement for sacked Rudi Garcia.

As he arrived, he was greeted at the gate by some of the same Napoli reporters who had already interviewed him regularly during his first tenure at the club from 2009 to 2013.

“I am tired, I haven’t slept for two days,” he told CalcioNapoli24. “It is all as wonderful as usual.”

Mazzarri was accompanied by assistant manager Nicolò Frustalupi, who had already worked for Napoli last season as coach of their Primavera youth team, and vice-president Edoardo De Laurentiis.

He has signed a contract that only runs to the end of the current campaign.

The only member of staff to remain from Garcia’s time is expected to be match analyst Beccaccioli.

Appearing on The Obi One Podcast of former Nigeria international  John Mikel Obi,  Victor Osimhen  has  revealed  why  he stayed put at Napoli  despite the tempting  offers  from  Saudi Arabia’s  s ide, Al Hilal, in the summer  to remain at Napoli.

 The 24-year-old  striker who led Napoli to their first Serie  A title  since the  Diego Maradona days in 1990,  was  subject  of  interests  to many top European clubs including Liverpool, Bayern Munich  and Chelsea ; with Al Hilal  making  a mind-blowing  £120.3m bid with wages on offer in the region of £1m per week.

 “What was said was true, I had talks, in August that week was a huge one, a huge decision for me to take, but I actually put it in God’s hands,” Osimhen  reportedly said of the Al Hilal offers. “But the more I said no to these people [in Saudi Arabia] the more they increased it and increased it, it was literally like, ‘wow’, seeing these things.

 “I spoke with the people in charge and we spoke about it with my club and we saw what we could do, we decided, me and them and I told them, ‘I like these people, I want to stay, I don’t think I want to leave for now’. They understand where I’m coming from but they never gave up until their own transfer window [closed].

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“I said to them even before we played the first game of the season, ‘it’s done’, I really didn’t want to go back thinking, of course it’s a huge one, an amazing one that’s going to change my life but of course I had to make the decision that’s good for my career too.

“As much as we play football for money there’s more that comes with it,” he noted.

Yet Mikel  reckoned  his former  English premier league (EPL) side, Chelsea,  would need a striker like Osimhen in order  to compete  favourably  well, adding  the  former Lille striker who has scored 65 goals in 111appearances for Napoli , would be a hit for the London outfit. He said:  “You look at our Chelsea team, we’re not playing that great at the minute but then we lack goals, we lack a striker who can run into spaces, who can create.

 “I think we’re crying out for goals, if he( Victor Osimhen)  comes to Chelsea I think it will suit him really well because we don’t have anyone doing that right now so there’s not going to be too much pressure on him coming into the club because obviously we need that, we’re crying out for that.

“You know, my advice is for him to come to Chelsea,” he added.

• Striker to miss Lesotho, Zimbabwe ties

Napoli manager Rudi Garcia has indicated that the injured Victor Osimhen will return to action on November 25.

The Little Donkeys will be away to Atalanta BC on that particular day in a Serie A encounter at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.

This means Osimhen will miss Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho on November 16 and Zimbabwe on November 19.

“I’m not concerned with this, the medical department has made plans,” Garcia told Sky Sport according to Calcio Napoli. “It seems obvious to me that after these two matches between the Champions League and Empoli, then there is a break. In my opinion, he will be ready for Atalanta.”

Osimhen is Nigeria’s most influential player having scored 20 goals from 28 international matches.

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Meanwhile, Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has disclosed that  both Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze will miss 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe due to injury.

Both Osimhen and Chukwueze suffered hamstring injuries on international duty last month and yet to return to action for their respective Serie A clubs. Their availability has been in doubt since their injuries

In a related development, Osimhen as reported by Il Mattino via TMW, arrived yesterday in Napoli and was present to support his team in the UCL clash at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

In the background, the tug-of-war regarding his new contract continues.

The striker’s agent Roberto Calenda is not interested in another meeting with De Laurentiis until it becomes clear that his client’s demands will be met.

Osimhen will continue his recovery with Napoli and the club hope to have him back after the November international break.