Last week, Napoli secured their first Serie A title in 33 years. A 1-1 draw away to Udinese, which saw Super Eagles’ striker Victor Osimhen score the equaliser, finally ended a baron spell for the Naples club, who last won the league with Diego Maradona in the side.
We caught up with Bet9ja Ambassador Victor Ikpeba, to get his views on this special Napoli team and their star man, Osimhen.
VI: Firstly, we have to say congratulations to Napoli and Osimhen! Napoli have been by far the most outstanding team in Serie A this season and fully deserve their success, although few would have predicted this at the start of the season.
To win the Scudetto with five matches to play demonstrates their dominance under Luciano Spalletti. Since winning the league, Napoli then beat Fiorentina 1-0 to move a massive 17 points clear of second.
Osimhen key
The key player to Napoli’s success is of course our man Osimhen. His goal against Fiorentina was his 47th in Serie A, which now makes him the highest African scorer in the league’s history. He has 23 goals in 28 league matches so far this season, and no African player has ever scored more in a single Serie A campaign! When he’s overtaking records made by legends such as George Weah and Samuel Eto’o, then you know you’ve got a very special player on your hands.
We all knew Osimhen had the potential so it’s great to see him producing week in, week out. I am really happy for him and with him being a big Nigerian star, a lot of people back home are celebrating with him.
Becoming a legend
I hope he stays, despite all the speculation linking him to several English Premier League clubs, such as Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle. I would like to think that he decides to stay for at least one more season before he moves to bigger things because Napoli could be a force to be reckoned with again, in both Serie A and the UEFA Champions League.
It’s not easy to compare him to the likes of Maradona but if Napoli can win the league again next season and get to at least the semi-finals of the Champions League, they he will certainly write his name in Napoli folklore and become a huge legend in the city.
Great for the Super Eagles
This is not the first time Nigerian stars have performed well in Italy, the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Obafemi Martins and Taribo West spring to mind. Italians have always believed that Nigerian players have to potential to play in Serie A. If this continues, then I expect to see some more Nigerian players do well in Italy.
But of course, it’s great for Nigerian football to have a superstar such as Osimhen, who is currently one of the best strikers in world football. It shows that Nigerian national players can play at the very highest level in Europe. Long may it continue.
Will Osimhen continue his scoring spree? Bet on Napoli’s next match at Bet9ja!
